Prince Harry Sued for Libel by Charity He Co-Founded in Memory of Mother Princess Diana

Prince Harry is facing a high-stakes legal battle with the very organization he co-founded to honor his mother’s legacy. Sentebale, the HIV/AIDS charity established by the Duke of Sussex in 2006, has filed a libel and slander lawsuit against him and former trustee Mark Dyer in the London High Court.

The legal action, initiated on March 24, marks a dramatic escalation in a long-simmering governance dispute that led to the Duke stepping back from the organization last year.

In a statement released Friday, April 10, Sentebale’s Board of Trustees and Executive Director confirmed they are seeking “intervention, protection, and restitution” from the court. The charity alleges that Harry and Dyer orchestrated a “coordinated adverse media campaign” beginning in March 2025.

According to the filing, this campaign triggered significant operational disruption, reputational damage, and an “onslaught of cyber-bullying” targeting the charity’s current leadership and strategic partners. Sentebale officials identified the Duke and Dyer as the “architects” of the viral impact that has since hampered the organization’s mission in Lesotho and Botswana.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer categorically rejected the claims, labeling them “offensive and damaging.” The defense maintains that the lawsuit represents a misuse of resources intended for vulnerable children.

“It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organization for nearly two decades,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The rift originated in a leadership vacuum following the departure of Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, in 2025. Their exit followed a public dispute with Sentebale Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka. While Chandauka previously raised concerns regarding governance, Harry’s camp had accused the current leadership of creating an environment that undermined the charity’s efficacy.

A Charity Commission investigation concluded last August found:

• No evidence of systemic bullying, racism, or misogyny.
• No “overreach” by either Prince Harry or Dr. Chandauka.
• Significant criticism of both parties for allowing the conflict to play out publicly, which the regulator said risked undermining public trust in the sector.

Despite the Commission’s attempt to mediate via a “Regulatory Action Plan,” the relationship has clearly collapsed. Sources close to the organization indicate that any prospect of the Duke returning to his patron role has been “completely extinguished,” describing the charity’s reputation as “too tarnished” by the infighting.

As the case moves to the High Court, the legal proceedings threaten to overshadow Sentebale’s core mission: supporting over 100,000 young people facing HIV/AIDS and mental health challenges in Southern Africa.