Prince Harry has been left feeling “wounded” and “upset” amid the ongoing controversy surrounding his charity, Sentebale, according to a close friend.

Last week, the Duke of Sussex, 40, and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, announced their decision to step down as patrons of the organization “until further notice.”

Following their resignation, Sentebale’s chair, Sophie Chandauka, publicly accused Prince Harry of ‘bullying’, further escalating the dispute.

Prince Harry Resigns from Sentebale Amid Growing Tensions

Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso to support children and young people living with HIV or AIDS, offering them a safe space to address their mental health needs while equipping them with essential resources.

However, after nearly two decades of dedication to the charity, Harry stepped down amid an unresolved dispute with Sophie Chandauka, the charity’s chair. While specific details remain undisclosed, The Times reported that the conflict stemmed from a shift in fundraising focus toward Africa.

In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their disappointment, saying:

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”

Meanwhile, Chandauka strongly criticized Harry, accusing him of ‘bullying’ and misconduct.

In a statement, she said:

“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.”

She also alleged that Harry pressured the charity to release a statement defending Meghan Markle when she faced backlash for her actions at a polo event last year.

Prince Harry ‘Heartbroken’ Over the Situation

Now, Alex Rayner, a longtime friend of Prince Harry who attended Eton with him and traveled to the North Pole together in 2012, has spoken out about how Harry is coping with the situation.

Speaking to MailOnline, Alex revealed that he had spoken with Harry over the weekend.

“H is very happy for me to speak for him about how he feels about this awful situation. He is just beyond heartbroken and flabbergasted that the charity he founded as a teenager has been taken hostage by the chair,” Alex said.