Prince Harry is facing legal proceedings brought by Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded, in a deepening dispute over governance, reputational damage and a bitter public fallout within the organisation.

The charity has filed papers in London’s High Court alleging defamation, naming Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants, according to the Guardian.

Sentebale, which works with children and young people in southern Africa, claims it has been damaged by what it describes as a “coordinated adverse media campaign” that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm.

According to the charity, the legal action follows months of internal conflict that escalated after Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as patrons in March 2025, triggering further resignations among trustees.

The dispute centres on allegations made by Sentebale’s leadership, including claims of reputational interference and attempts to undermine relationships with partners and staff.

The charity said the case has been funded entirely through external sources, with no charitable donations used.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer rejected the allegations, describing them as “offensive and damaging,” and questioning the decision to pursue legal action against the charity’s founders.

“It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation,” the statement said.

The row follows years of internal tensions within Sentebale, which was founded by Harry in memory of his mother Princess Diana.

In 2025, trustees resigned amid disputes involving the charity’s leadership, including chair Dr Sophie Chandauka.

The UK Charity Commission has previously criticised all sides for allowing the dispute to play out publicly, saying it had damaged the organisation’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities.

The regulator cleared Harry of wrongdoing but said governance failures and internal disagreements had not been handled appropriately.

Chandauka has previously accused critics of attempting to discredit whistleblowing concerns over governance and workplace culture within the organisation.