Harry’s situation.
With the Duke of Sussex under intense scrutiny over Sentebale’s defamation lawsuit, there’s a good chance Prince Harry’s own words will come back to haunt him, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six.
Mr Schofield said: “Mr Sentebale is doing what the British royal family cannot do: holding Prince Harry accountable for venting personal grievances at the expense of others.”
“Prince Harry’s public declaration has very real consequences,” she continued. “The royal family’s popularity plummeted after he and Meghan (Markle) claimed racism within the family in an interview with Oprah. The royal family was paralyzed and unable to counter these accusations.”
Mr Schofield went on to note that Sentebarre chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka has reportedly “presented analysis to Prince Harry suggesting that increasingly polarized public attention is beginning to impact on charity fundraising.”
“She states that that moment was the beginning of a deterioration in relations between the Duke and the organization’s new leadership,” Schofield explained. “As tensions escalated, Prince Harry resigned in a very public manner, with those close to him accusing Mr Chandauka of orchestrating a ‘hostile takeover’ of the charity he founded.”
The royal commentator continued: “Prince Harry has made it his personal mission to challenge media narratives and hold journalists accountable for their reporting. Going forward, a lawsuit could put him in the unusual position of having to defend his words and actions in court.”
As for King Charles and Prince William, they are said to be “closely” monitoring Mr Sentebale’s defamation case against Prince Harry.
“For years, they have been unable to publicly challenge Prince Harry’s claims,” Schofield said. “The courtroom may be the first place where Prince Harry’s claims will be truly scrutinized. The courtroom could be a means for Prince Harry to make some sort of vindication against institutions that have remained silent while he has aired his controversy publicly.”
Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry in 2006 in honor of his mother Princess Diana, filed a libel, libel and slander lawsuit against the Duke of Sussex on March 24.
The charity also named Prince Harry’s close friend and former Sentebale councilor Mark Dyer as a defendant, accusing him of launching a “systematic adverse media campaign” against Sentebale starting in March 2025.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeso of Lesotho, with whom the duke co-founded Sentebale 20 years ago, resigned from the charity last year amid an ugly and public falling out between royal rebels and Chandauka.
Ms Chandauka went on to report Harry to the Regulated Charity Commission of England and Wales for alleged bullying and harassment.
The commission launched an investigation into Ms Chandauka’s claims, but found no evidence of “widespread or systematic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogyny”.
However, the committee accused both Harry and Chandauka of allowing their dispute to be “played out in public”.
Regarding Sentebale’s defamation suit, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Dyer told Page Six that the couple “categorically rejects” the charity’s “offensive and harmful claims.”
Mr Schofield said the embattled duke was “likely to be frustrated” by Mr Chandauka’s “audacity” in filing the alleged defamation complaint.
“This not only sends a message to Sentebale that this is not an option for him, but it also sends a message to other charities that Prince Harry has a responsibility,” Schofield concluded.
