Prince Harry and Seeiso acknowledged the trustees’ years of dedication and lamented that the situation had escalated to such an extreme.
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about,” they stated.
Although Harry and Seeiso have stepped down from their roles as patrons of Sentebale, they emphasized that their bond with the organization remains as strong as ever.
The two remain deeply committed to its mission and the people it serves. As founders, they continue to recognize the charity’s potential and the meaningful change it can create under effective leadership.
However, Sentebale clarified that it has not yet received formal resignations from its royal patrons, Harry and Seeiso. The charity also announced a board restructuring on March 25, 2025, as part of its efforts to bring in experts and strengthen its ongoing transformation.
The organization takes its name from the Sesotho word for “forget-me-not” and has long been committed to helping vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana.
Harry first traveled to Lesotho in 2004, where he saw firsthand the struggles many children faced. Moved by the experience, he and Seeiso co-founded Sentebale to provide support for at-risk youth.
For Harry, Sentebale was a way to carry on Princess Diana’s mission of advocating for those affected by AIDS. According to the organization’s website, it was “deeply inspired by their mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamahato—courageous women who used their platforms to raise awareness about difficult subjects and brought hope and help to vulnerable communities.”
As a result, the organization initially aimed to tackle the stigma surrounding HIV, which had left countless children orphaned. Over the years, Sentebale broadened its scope, launching the Mamahato Centre and developing a network of clubs, camps, and programs designed to support and empower young people in Lesotho and Botswana.