Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has redirected his portion of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund away from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006. Instead, the funds are being moved to Elephants Without Borders to support wildlife conservation in Botswana.
The breakdown of the Sentebale leadership
The decision to move these funds follows a highly publicized conflict between Prince Harry and Sentebale’s board chairman, Sophie Chandauka. According to the report, Ms. Chandauka has accused the Duke of causing "operational disruption and reputational harm" to the organization through an adverse media campaign. This friction eventually led to a significant leadership vacuum when Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and a group of trustees resigned from the charity in March 2025.
The Charity Commission has weighed in on the internal strife, criticizing all involved parties for airing their grievances in the public eye. The regulator described the situation as a "missed opportunity" to resolve internal issues, noting that such public disputes risk eroding general confidence in the entire charity sector. This fallout marks a sharp departure from the Duke's long-standing commitment to Sentebale, which was established to support young people living with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
Satellite collars for Archie and Lili in the Okavango Delta
Prince Harry’s new philanthropic focus centers on the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, where Elephants Without Borders operates. Dr. Mike Chase, the founder of the elephant charity and a long-time associate of the Duke, confirmed that the donated funds are being used to equip two elephants with satellite-tracking collars. In a gesture of personal connection, the elephants have been named after the Duke's children, Archie and Lili.
The tracking project includes specific personal touches requested by the royal family. As reported by the Telegraph, the elephant named after Archie will wear a blue collar, while the elephant named after Lili will feature a purple one . This move aligns with Meghan Markle's previous support for the organization, including her work narrating a Disney film titled Elephant to assist with their conservation efforts.
A shift in the Diana Memorial Fund’s annual payouts
The redirection of funds represents a notable change in how the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is distributed between the Duke of Sussex and his brother, Prince William. while the fund was closed in 2012 and is now managed by the Royal Foundation, it continues to distribute legacy donations. Since 2020, Sentebale had received a total of £43,866 from the fund, including a payment of £16,743 in 2024.
However ,the latest financial filings from the Royal Foundation show a pivot in the 2025 distribution cycle. For the first time, Prince Harry’s share—which amounted to £5,432—was directed to Elephants Without Borders rather than his former charity. This shift highlights the practical impact of the recent administrative and legal disagreements within the Duke's former philanthropic circle.
The unresolved defamation battle in the High Court
Despite the shift in funding, significant legal questions remain regarding the Duke's relationship with his former charity. A court action was filed in the High Court this past March against Prince Harry and another former trustee, Mark Dyer. The litigation stems from the accusations of reputational damage leveled by Sentebale leadership, a claim that Harry has dimissed as "offensive and damaging."
It remains unclear how the outcome of this defamation suit will affect the Duke's future involvement with charitable institutions in Botswana. While he has found a new outlet for his passion for the Okavango Delta, the legal battle with Sentebale suggests that his ability to manage or influence large-scale charitable legacies remains under intense scrutiny.
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