Full Video of Meghan Markle's Awkward Sentebale Exchange Released Amid Charity Lawsuit
The complete and unedited video capturing the moment Meghan Markle ushered Sentebale's chief executive away from her husband Prince Harry has been made public for the very first time today. This footage is alleged to have sparked the bitter dispute between the Duke of Sussex and Sentebale chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka, which is now heading towards the libel courts in a high-profile legal battle.
Charity Commission Scrutiny Over Defamation Lawsuit
Sentebale, the charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother Princess Diana, is currently facing intense scrutiny from England's Charity Commission regarding its decision to sue the Duke of Sussex for defamation. The watchdog is formally questioning trustees about whether pursuing legal action against Harry actually furthers the charity's charitable purposes and mission.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex has expressed concern, stating: 'Whether they're using external or internal funds for the case, that money could still be used to support the charity's work directly helping vulnerable young people.' The libel and slander lawsuit, targeting both Prince Harry and his close friend and former royal equerry Mark Dyer, was officially filed at the High Court last Friday.
The Awkward Polo Event Exchange
The newly released video by Hello! magazine documents the excruciating exchange that occurred during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Miami back in April 2024. The fundraising event was organized to benefit Sentebale, making the interactions particularly significant given subsequent developments.
The footage clearly shows Meghan Markle being assisted onto a trailer to present a polo trophy to her husband after his victory. She gives Prince Harry an affectionate kiss before handing him the silverware. Dr Sophie Chandauka then approaches the stage area, but the Duchess of Sussex promptly directs her to move away from Harry's side.
Dr Chandauka is visibly seen ducking under the trophy as she complies with Meghan's request, smiling politely throughout the awkward moment. Although nothing was said publicly at the time, Dr Chandauka later accused Meghan of causing significant disruption on what she described as an already overcrowded stage.
Background to the Growing Conflict
Dr Chandauka has claimed that Meghan Markle had initially confirmed she would not be attending the charity polo event, only to arrive unexpectedly with her tennis legend friend Serena Williams. This last-minute appearance allegedly complicated the event's choreography and planning.
Speaking to Sky News previously, Dr Chandauka recalled: 'We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn't. The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage.'
She further revealed that Prince Harry had asked her to issue a public statement supporting the Duchess against negative publicity, but she refused. 'Not because I didn't care about the Duchess, but because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes,' she explained.
Additional Points of Contention
The conflict between Prince Harry and Sentebale's leadership extends beyond this single incident. Dr Chandauka has cited the video as evidence while accusing the Duke of being involved in what she describes as a cover-up of investigations into bullying, harassment, and misogyny within the organization.
She has also claimed that the toxicity of Harry's brand has negatively impacted the charity's operations and reputation. Another significant point of disagreement emerged when Harry reportedly requested to bring a Netflix camera crew to document the polo event for his streaming series.
Dr Chandauka asserted that this request created substantial complications: 'The venue owner said this is now a commercial undertaking. We couldn't afford it. So now we lost the venue.' This necessitated finding an alternative location for the fundraising event.
Charity's Response and Legal Position
Sentebale's trustees have responded to the Charity Commission's inquiries by emphasizing that the legal action is being funded entirely by external sources, with no charity money being utilized for the lawsuit. They stated: 'The board and executive director trust that those who believe in Sentebale's mission will understand why this legal action, while difficult, was necessary and important.'
The charity, whose name means 'forget-me-not' in the language of Lesotho, was established in 2006 to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. It has faced considerable funding challenges since Prince Harry's dramatic departure from the board last year following his public feud with Dr Chandauka.
Historical Context of the Dispute
The rift between Prince Harry and Dr Chandauka began in 2024 when Sentebale's board questioned her leadership over a substantial £400,000 bill for consultants that trustees believed had delivered minimal returns. When asked to step down, Dr Chandauka instead filed a formal complaint with the Charity Commission, alleging bullying, misogyny, and racism within the organization.
Although the Charity Commission's investigation found no evidence of racism or bullying, it did criticize weak governance structures and noted that all parties had allowed an internal dispute to become unnecessarily public. This led to the mass resignation of trustees, including Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, in March of last year.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer has stated that they 'categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims' being made against them. The release of the complete video footage adds another layer to this complex and ongoing legal and charitable drama that continues to unfold in both the courts and the court of public opinion.
