Prince Harry is facing legal action from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 to honour his late mother, Princess Diana. The organisation has initiated proceedings at High Court, alleging reputational damage linked to an alleged media campaign.
Court filings show that Harry and Mark Dyer, a former trustee, have been named as defendants in the case, NDTV reported.
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Charity alleges reputational harm
In its statement, Sentebale said it had commenced legal proceedings on March 24, citing "operational disruption and reputational harm" caused by what it described as a coordinated media campaign.
"The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership," the organisation said.
The case has been classified as a defamation claim involving libel and slander.
Harry rejects claims
A spokesperson for Harry and Dyer pushed back strongly against the allegations, stating:
"As Sentebale's co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims," a spokesperson for the pair said in a statement.
"It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communities the charity was created to serve," the spokesperson added.
The dispute follows Harry's resignation from the charity last year amid disagreements with its leadership.
Governance dispute and inquiry findings
The situation stems from a wider internal conflict within Sentebale. Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso stepped down after trustees resigned during a disagreement with chairperson Sophie Chandauka.
An earlier inquiry by the UK Charity Commission found "mismanagement" in the organisation but reported no evidence of bullying, including allegations made against Harry.
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The regulator noted that the "damaging internal dispute" had "severely impacted the charity's reputation" and highlighted governance shortcomings, including a lack of clarity in administrative roles, said NDTV in its report.
Sentebale was established to support young people living with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later expanded to Botswana. The name, meaning "forget me not" in Sesotho, serves as a tribute to Princess Diana, who died in 1997.
