Harry hopes watchdog will uncover 'lies' over charity

Prince Harry says he hopes the Charity Commission will uncover the truth about what went on at a charity he founded, claiming blatant lies” had been told amid a boardroom battle that led to his quitting.

- JANE DALTON

The commission has announced it is escalating its investigations into “concerns raised” about Sentebale, a week after it emerged the Duke of Sussex had resigned as patron and a string of trustees had also stepped down.

The watchdog yesterday said it had opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity, which he founded in 2006.

The prince said the fallout of his resignation had been “heartbreaking to witness” and that he hoped the commission would “unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign”.

He founded the organisation in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those with HIV and Aids.

Last week it emerged that several trustees had left the charity in a dispute with its chair, Sophie Chandauka, after requesting her resignation. Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees.

The duke said of the investigation’s escalation: “From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers.