'Work continues' Chair of Harry's charity hits back

In a message to supporters yesterday afternoon, the Sentebale charity, founded two decades ago by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, tried to put a brave face on an extraordinary 24 hours.

- Daniel Boffey Rachel Savage Johannesburg

"While trustees are key for governance and regulation, and patrons - especially founders - are an honour to have, it's the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what," the charity said. "Our commitment to supporting youth in southern Africa with better health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience remains as strong as ever. The work continues because they deserve nothing less."

It was a worthy sentiment, perhaps, but the uncomfortable truth is that the statement was being issued as Harry's Sentebale charity - named "forget-me-not", in the local language of Lesotho, in honour of Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales - was in the midst of an implosion.

Harry and Seeiso had taken the "unthinkable" decision to stand down as patrons over the "untenable" leadership of Dr Sophie Chandauka, the chair of the African charity's board.

Chandauka, a Zimbabwean-born corporate lawyer, in turn unleashed an eye-watering attack in which she made little effort to hide her scorn for King Charles's youngest son.

"There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct," she wrote.