Prince Harry steps down from charity embroiled in human rights violations scandal

Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group currently embroiled in a human rights violation scandal, ahead of his and Meghan Markle’s move back to the UK.

“The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its Board,” a spokesperson for Harry told Page Six on Monday. “His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”

African Parks confirmed Harry’s exit as it announced its new board members on Monday.

“We extend our thanks to all the members of the Board who generously volunteer their time in support of our conservation mission – and particularly to The Duke of Sussex, for a decade of committed service to African Parks,” chairperson Vas Narasimhan shared in a statement via the charity’s website.

Harry, 41, began his work with African Park in 2016. He served as the group’s president for six years until 2023, at which point he joined the board of directors.

According to the Charity Governance Code, trustees are usually expected to serve for a term of no more than three years, and may be reappointed for further terms, up to a maximum of nine years

Harry made a surprise trip to Africa as part of his work with the charity in August 2022. He and Markle, 45, brought their now-7-year-old son, Prince Archie, there in September 2019.

In July 2022, the “Spare” author mentioned his love for Africa when he spoke at the United Nations about climate change.

“Since I first visited Africa at 13 years old, I’ve always found hope on the continent. In fact, for most of my life, it has been my lifeline,” he said in his speech.

“It’s where I’ve felt closest to my [late] mother, [Princess Diana], and sought solace after she died, and where I knew I had found a soulmate in my wife.”

African Parks is a “non-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities,” according to the website.

Last year, the charity launched an internal investigation into allegations that its rangers raped, beat and tortured indigenous people in Africa, and confirmed that “in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred.”

“We deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims,” the group said in a May 2025 statement. “There is no place for any form of abuse in the name of conservation.”

African Parks also admitted that the investigation “highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us,” before promising that the group is “committed to rectifying these issues and ensuring the protection of human rights throughout our operations.”

“Further, where sufficient evidence is available, we will take action against staff members implicated in incidents not yet known about, or that had not been adequately dealt with,” the statement continued.

In March 2025, Harry resigned from a different charity, Sentebale, which he co-founded in honor of his mother, Princess Diana, in 2006, amid a public falling out between him and chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

Chandauka reported Harry to the regulatory Charity Commission for England and Wales for allegations of bullying and harassment, but an investigation found no evidence of “widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogynoir.”

Sentebale subsequently sued Harry for libel and slander in April, accusing him of a “coordinated adverse media campaign” that “caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.”

A spokesperson for Harry told Page Six at the time that they “categorically reject” Sentebale’s “offensive and damaging claims.”

Page Six confirmed last Wednesday that Harry and Markle are moving back to the UK at the end of the month for “an extended period of time.”

They have enrolled Archie and their 5-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, in school there.

Sources told Page Six that the couple made the shock move in order to be closer to Harry’s dad, King Charles III, who is currently battling cancer.

However, royal reporter Tom Sykes told Page Six that the move “is a huge slap in the face” for Harry’s brother, Prince William, amid their ongoing feud.