Prince Harry steps down "in shock" as patron of Sentebale charity he co-founded in Africa

London — Prince Harry has stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 that was long aimed at helping children in southern Africa who have HIV/AIDS. The British royal said he was in a state of "shock" over having to abandon the charity he helped establish in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. In the local language of Lesotho, where the charity is based, Sentebale means "forget-me-not."

The British royal and his Sentebale co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, said they were stepping down as patrons of the charity in solidarity with five trustees who resigned over an internal dispute that has broken into public view. At the center of the standoff is the organization's chairwoman, who had been asked to step down but refused, reportedly over a change in Sentebale's mission. 

"With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same," said Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Prince Seeiso in a joint statement.