Prince Harry is said to be "reeling" after the charity he co-founded issued a cutting rebuke following his resignation as patron.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, sensationally quit Sentebale - a charity he established in his late mother Princess Diana's memory.
A source who has known the prince since he created the African charity in 2006 told the Mail: "There's no way of sugar-coating the damage of this, regardless of who's in the right. He'll be reeling."
Harry said he was devastated to step down, but cited a "broken" relationship as the reason for his departure.
Prince Harry 'reeling' as Sentebale boss slams Duke of Sussex's ‘victim narrative’
Getty
The Chair of the Board, Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE, slammed the royal on Wednesday with a thinly-veiled jibe.
Dr Chandauka's statement, while not naming Harry directly, referred to people who "play the victim card and use the very press they disdain, to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct."
She also spoke of "people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people."
Sources believe the royal will be furious at her words and their narrative.
Dr Sophie Chandauka has refused to step down as the chair of SentebalePAThe Sentebale charity, which helps children and adolescents struggling with HIV and AIDS diagnoses, suggested "people in the field" were more important than its trustees.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror that Harry will be "crushed" but will vow to carry out more philanthropic work in Africa regardless.
The rebuke from Dr Chandauka and the charity itself marks a shocking contrast to Harry's comments during a visit to South Africa last year, when he praised Sentebale for "making a massive difference" with its projects.
Nearly 20 years ago, after launching Sentebale, Harry declared his lifelong commitment to the project.
Dr Sophie Chandauka and Prince Harry pictured in South Africa last OctoberGettyThe young prince, hoping to continue his mother's legacy, told reporters: "You'll be surprised. Come back to this place in 25 years, you'll see a massive difference... As far as I'm concerned, I'm committed for the rest of my life."
His resignation now represents a dramatic U-turn from those early promises.
The duke has not commented publicly on the stinging rebuke from the charity's leadership.
Dr Chandauka claimed she reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal.
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Harry stepped down in solidarity with the entire board of trustees following an irreparable breakdown in relations with Dr ChandaukaGettySources say that after the board formally requested her resignation, she declined and filed a legal challenge when they tried to force the move through with a vote.
It is claimed that the court did not grant an injunction and, as the charity board meeting was ultimately cancelled, the judge decided no further hearing was necessary.
It is not clear where this leaves Dr Chandauka's legal challenge. In her statement, she made no secret of where she feels the blame lies as a "proud African", though she did not mention Harry by name.
It is understood that Prince Harry is not personally the subject of any legal action in this matter.
Dr Chandauka added: "Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir - and the cover-up that ensued."
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