The Duke of Sussex is being sued for defamation by Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded, in the latest development of a bitter dispute. The charity has filed papers at London’s High Court naming Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants.
Sentebale, which works with children and young people in southern Africa, said it had begun legal proceedings after what it described as a “coordinated adverse media campaign” since 25 March 2025. The charity claimed this campaign caused operational disruption and reputational harm, and identified Prince Harry and Mr Dyer as the “architects”.
The legal action follows a public war of words between the prince and the charity’s chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, after he resigned as patron in March 2025. Trustees later quit over a dispute with Dr Chandauka, a lawyer appointed in 2023.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex and Mark Dyer said they “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims”. They added: “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.”
The claim was filed on 24 March, according to HM Courts and Tribunals Service. In August 2025, the Charity Commission criticised Prince Harry for allowing the row to “play out publicly”, while clearing him of racism allegations.
