The ongoing drama surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ties to Sentebale Charity has taken yet another turn. In a revealing interview with Sky News, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the charity’s chairperson, detailed how Meghan’s unexpected appearance at a 2024 polo event—alongside her famous friend, Serena Williams—caused confusion and disruption.
According to Dr. Chandauka, Meghan had initially confirmed she wouldn’t be attending, with only Prince Harry set to appear. However, plans abruptly changed when the Duchess of Sussex arrived at the event unannounced. While her presence would have been welcomed with prior notice, the last-minute surprise threw off the event’s organization. “We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time, but we didn’t. And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage,” she explained.
Reportedly, Meghan wasn’t happy with the stage arrangement and asked Dr. Chandauka—twice—to shift positions so she wouldn’t be standing next to Prince Harry during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge. Instead, Meghan directed her to move left, which led to an awkward moment as she had to duck under the trophy to get into place.
The unusual stage interactions were picked up by the media, with Dr. Chandauka adding, “The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage—whether she should have been there and how she treated me.”
Following the event, Prince Harry allegedly asked Dr. Chandauka to issue a public statement in support of Meghan, a request she declined. She clarified that her refusal wasn’t personal but rather about maintaining the integrity of the charity. “We cannot be an extension of the Sussexes,” she stated.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also weighed in on the situation, telling the Daily Mail that Meghan’s surprise appearance “caused confusion, which was symptomatic of the chaos Dr. Chandauka claims the charity had descended into.” He further noted that Prince Harry’s departure from Sentebale marks a significant loss for him, as it was a cause he had championed since co-founding it in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana.
With tensions still simmering, this latest revelation adds to the growing list of challenges facing the Sussexes in their post-royal journey.
