Prince Harry has diverted money from Princess Diana’s memorial fund away from his co-founded charity Sentebale following a bitter legal row, redirecting the cash to a Botswana-based wildlife organisation.
Fallout with Sentebale
The Duke of Sussex previously channelled annual proceeds from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund to Sentebale, a charity established to support vulnerable children in southern Africa. However, Harry’s ties to the organisation fractured in 2025 following a high-profile fallout with board chairman Sophie Chandauka, leading to his exit and that of the board of trustees.
Sentebale subsequently launched defamation proceedings against the Duke, alleging he orchestrated a campaign that inflicted "operational disruption and reputational harm". Harry forcefully rejected the claims as "offensive and damaging".
New Funding Destination
Now, official documents confirm Harry’s share of the legacy funds has been allocated to Elephants Without Borders, a conservation group closely linked to the Sussexes. Dr Mike Chase, founder of Elephants Without Borders and a long-time confidant of the Duke, revealed the money supported satellite-tracking collars for two elephants in the Okavango Delta, named after Archie and Lilibet.
Prince Archie, seven, selected a blue collar for his namesake elephant, while Princess Lilibet, five, chose a purple collar before the animals were released into northern Botswana. Dr Chase expressed deep gratitude for the support, sharing: "The Duke has a very strong passion for the Okavango Delta, Botswana, its people, and its wildlife... We wanted to pass on that legacy to the kids, in the hope that his passion for Okavango and Botswana would rub off on them."
Background and Financial Details
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund closed in 2012, with the Royal Foundation taking legal control in 2013 to protect residual donations and legacies. Following the latter's step back from royal duties in 2020, Prince William and Prince Harry agreed to split future proceeds to their separate charitable activities. Harry had asked for his share to go to Sentebale, which helps the victims of poverty and HIV/Aids in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi.
According to annual accounts filed by the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Sentebale has received £43,866 from the Diana fund since 2020, with the last payment of £16,743 made in 2024. The latest accounts reveal that, last year, for the first time, Prince Harry’s portion of the fund, then £5,432, went to Elephants Without Borders.
Harry’s connection to Dr Chase spans over two decades, with the conservationist considered part of his "African family". Botswana holds special significance for the Sussexes, serving as the backdrop for several key moments in their relationship. In August 2017, Harry introduced Meghan Markle to Dr Chase and the couple joined him in tagging animals on World Elephant Day. Two years later, the Duke planted hundreds of trees along the Chobe River during a royal tour. In 2020, Meghan narrated the Disney documentary Elephant and donated her fee directly to the charity.
Meanwhile, the Royal Foundation reported a landmark financial year for 2025, with its overall income surging from £12.2million to £19.6million. This was largely driven by an updated fundraising strategy that increased legacy funding and expanded its donor base, including an £8.7million contribution from the US-based American Friends of the Royal Foundation.
