Prince Harry has redirected his annual donations from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund away from Sentebale and toward Elephants Without Borders, a Botswana-based conservation organization. The shift follows a falling out with Sophie Chandauka, the chairman of Sentebale’s board, which led to Harry stepping down from the charity’s board of trustees in 2025 amid a series of disputes. Subsequently, Sentebale filed a defamation lawsuit against the Duke of Sussex, accusing him of orchestrating a negative media campaign that caused operational disruption and reputational damage, claims Harry has dismissed as "offensive and damaging."
For years, Prince Harry had directed the income generated by the Diana Memorial Fund to Sentebale, a charity he co-founded to support orphans affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa, particularly in Lesotho, Botswana, and Malawi. Following his and Prince William’s separation of charitable activities after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020, the brothers agreed to divide the fund’s future proceeds. Harry’s share had gone to Sentebale, which received £43,866 from the fund between 2020 and 2024, with the last payment of £16,743 made in 2024.
According to recent accounts filed by the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, in 2025, the Duke’s portion of the Diana fund, amounting to £5,432, was donated to Elephants Without Borders for the first time. A statement in the accounts explained that half of the net proceeds received by the Diana Fund since December 18, 2019, are being allocated to a charity of Harry’s choosing, and in 2025, all funds were directed to Elephants Without Borders.
The conservation group, based in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, has a long-standing relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Dr. Mike Chase, founder of Elephants Without Borders and a close associate of Harry for over 20 years, said the Duke’s support has been “a tremendous honour.” The funds have been used to equip elephants with satellite-tracking collars, naming two elephants—Archie and Lili—after the Sussex children. The collars, which allow real-time monitoring of the animals across northern Botswana’s plains, were fitted with colored bands chosen by Prince Archie (blue) and Princess Lilibet (purple).
Dr. Chase highlighted Harry’s deep connection to Botswana, its people, and its wildlife, expressing gratitude for the support through the Diana Memorial Fund. The Duke’s involvement with the charity dates back to at least 2017. Around the time he began dating Meghan Markle, he took her to Botswana to join Dr. Chase in tracking and tagging elephants. In 2019, during a royal tour of southern Africa, Harry participated in reforestation efforts along Botswana’s Chobe River with Elephants Without Borders.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund was established shortly after her death in 1997 but was closed in 2012. Its legal control passed to the Royal Foundation in 2013 to protect any future income. While the fund no longer actively raises money, it continues to receive legacy gifts and donations, with proceeds directed by the royal family to selected charities. Prince Harry’s recent decision marks a clear pivot from humanitarian work with Sentebale toward wildlife conservation in Botswana.