“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.”

They added: “What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.”

Five former trustees, including Mark Dyer, an army captain and the duke’s long-time mentor, also released a statement confirming that they felt forced to step down for the sake of the organisation.

“Today’s decision is nothing short of devastating for all of us, but we see no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board,” they said.

“Our priority has always been, and will always be, what’s in the best interest of the charity, and it’s desperately sad the breakdown in relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the chair against the charity, to block us from voting her out after our request for her resignation was rejected.

“We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions.

“This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity.”

‘We will always be its founders’

Harry and Seeiso added: “These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind.

“In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.

“We thank all the trustees for their service over the years and are truly heartbroken they’ve had to follow through with this act.”

They added: “Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.”

In a statement issued by Sentebale, Chandauka accused the resigning trustees of abuse of power, bullying, misogyny and harassment.

She appeared to criticise the duke saying Sentebale was a “vanity project” for those who had left and that they were using the media “they disdain” to cause harm.

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“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct,” she said.

“Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?

“Well, because 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 [discrimination against black women] – and the cover-up that ensued.”

‘I will not be intimidated’

Chandauka said she would remain chair of the board, focus on fundraising and would not comment further on the matter.

“For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account,” she added.

“I am an African who has had the privilege of a world-class education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.”

The row reportedly centred around a decision by the new chairman to focus on fundraising in Africa.

In December, the charity shifted its operation to southern Africa, announcing that it was part of a strategy to “invest in the growth of a locally led organisation” and “place the most critical senior roles in proximity to its programs”.

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Shortly afterwards, Richard Miller quit as chief executive after five years in the role and was replaced by Johannesburg-based Carmel Gaillard.

Miller said that it was “the next logical step for Sentebale” and that “the time is right for this shift to local leadership”.

Last October, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, the former British overseas development minister, stepped down as a director.

Andrew Tucker, another executive, who was known affectionately to Harry as “Tucks”, has also recently stepped down after almost a decade.

Three new directors were appointed to the board on Tuesday, according to Companies House.

Harry was inspired to set up Sentebale, which means “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, the local language, after spending two months in Lesotho during his gap year in 2004. He held a number of fundraising polo events for the charity.

As recently as last October, he travelled to Lesotho to reunite with Seeiso and in December, he attended an event in New York on behalf of the charity.

Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either founder.

The charity said in a statement that it was “pleased to confirm” the restructuring of its board to accelerate the transformation of its agenda.

It said the organisation was evolving from one focused on addressing the impact of HIV/Aids on the lives of children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, “to one that is addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa”.

The Telegraph, London