Charity boss says Prince Harry asked for public message of support for Meghan after polo fundraiser ‘went badly’

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2025

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The chair of a charity set up by Prince Harry says he asked for a public message of support for Meghan after a polo fundraiser “went badly”.

In a wide-ranging interview with Sky News’ Trevor Phillips, chair of Sentebale Dr Sophie Chandauka also claimed:

• The charity lost sponsors and donors when the Sussexes left the UK – but she wasn’t allowed to discuss the problem
• Harry is the “number one risk” to the charity
• He tried to “eject” her from the organisation
• He would appoint board members without consulting her

Sentebale was set up by the prince in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, to help young people with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.

Dr Chandauka has already accused the prince of “harassment and bullying at scale” by “unleashing” the Sussex PR machine – an allegation a source denied as “completely baseless”.

On Tuesday, Prince Harry quit as patron of the charity along with several other senior members after disagreements with the chair.

Polo fundraiser ‘went badly’

In a full interview with Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Dr Chandauka discussed Prince Harry’s filming of a Netflix show, which she said resulted in the charity losing the venue for an event they were holding.

She said the duke phoned her team, saying he’d like to bring a Netflix crew to the polo event.

She said the venue owners were originally “happy for us to use their polo grounds at a material discount”.

But as a result of the request, the price increased as it had become a commercial venture.

The charity was forced to pull out of the venue as it couldn’t afford the fee, according to Dr Chandauka, but then was “lucky enough” to find another through Prince Harry’s connections.

On the day, however, she claimed there were more problems.

“The duchess decided to attend, but she told us she wasn’t attending, and she brought a friend, a very famous friend,” Dr Chandauka said.

“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.”

She claimed the media attention around Meghan’s treatment of her prompted Prince Harry to ask Dr Chandauka to issue a statement in support of the duchess.

“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,” she said.

A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described Dr Chandauka’s account of the polo match as “highly misleading”. Sky News also contacted Netflix, who declined to comment.

‘Number one risk’

Dr Chandauka was asked if the Duke of Sussex is the “number one risk” to the charity, and replied “yes”.

She added that when she asked why there was a loss of sponsors at the time the Sussexes left the UK, she was told: “It’s an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room.”

“What you discovered was essentially, donors were walking because of the prince’s reputation?” asked Trevor Phillips.

“Yes,” Dr Chandauka replied.

She also accused the prince of trying to “eject” her from the organisation.

“There were board meetings where members of the executive team and external strategic advisors were sending me messages saying, ‘Should I interrupt?’, ‘Should I stop this?’ ‘Oh my gosh, this is so bad’,” she said.

“In fact, our strategic adviser for fundraising then sent me a message saying she wouldn’t want to ever attend any more board meetings or bring her colleagues because of the treatment.”

When she didn’t leave, Dr Chandauka suggested Prince Harry tried to force the failure of the charity he set up in his mother’s memory.

“Prince Harry started to brief, and his team, sponsors that I had been speaking to, against me and the charity, because that is a sure way of getting me out if it’s seen as though I’m not being successful in my fundraising efforts,” she said.

When asked about a Sky News interview with former trustee Dr Kelello Lerotholi who said he was “surprised” by her accusations about the prince, Dr Chandauka said she wasn’t “surprised that he didn’t know much of what was going on in the organisation”.

“He had the worst attendance record and even when he was in the meetings, he didn’t actually contribute that much,” she said.

‘Everybody’s shocked and quiet’

Dr Chandauka gave an example of the prince’s behaviour in board meetings.

“Prince Harry decides, on this specific occasion, that he wants to appoint an individual to the board, with immediate effect, without having talked to me,” she said.

“His proxy on the board says, ‘Yes, I second that motion’. The third proxy on the board says, ‘Welcome to the board, Brian’.

“And everybody’s shocked and quiet, but this is what happens when the prince is in the room and no one has the courage to speak.”

Sky News contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex about the contents of Sophie Chandauka’s interview with Trevor Phillips, and they declined to offer any formal response.

But the source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity has described as categorically false Dr Chandauka’s claims that Dr Lerotholi did not attend meetings and did not contribute much when he was in meetings and that the Duke of Sussex leaving the UK impacted the charity, caused it to lose sponsors, or that the duke posed the biggest risk to the charity.

The source also described as “completely baseless” Dr Chandauka’s claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was unleashed on her and that the people on the board of Sentebale were scared to speak up when the duke was in the room.

The claim that the press was informed about the royal patrons departure as trustees before the charity, has been described by the source as “categorically untrue”.

In response to Dr Chandauka’s claim that the Duke of Sussex was ‘forcing the failure’ of the charity ‘as a last resort’, the source pointed to the public statement of Prince Harry and his co-founder of the Sentebale charity, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, which read:

“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.

“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.”

UK

Every household bill rising in April – and how you can beat the hikes

Published

10 hours ago

April 1, 2025

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Every household bill rising in April - and how you can beat the hikes

Many household bills are rising from today – ranging from energy prices and council tax to mobile phone contracts and broadband.

Coinciding with the new financial year, from today there will be higher bills for:

Energy
Broadband, mobile phone and TV licence
Car tax
Water
Stealth taxes
Stamp duty
Council tax

The Sky News Money blog outlined the hikes – and how you could potentially beat them – in one of its long read features below.

You can read more from the Money blog as well as reactions to today’s increased bills here.

Cost of living calculator: See how much your bills are going up

ENERGY BILLS

The average annual energy bill will rise to £1,849 as industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap for the third time in a row.

The new figure represents a 6.4% a year – or £9.25 per month – increase in the typical sum the vast majority of households face paying for gas and electricity when using direct debit.

You can read more about the changes and why they’re happening here.

Only those on fixed-rate deals – around 11 million homes – will see no change until their current term expires. An extra four million homes have fixed the cost of energy units since November, Ofgem said.

Standing charges – daily fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply which vary by region – are also rising for gas while dropping for electricity, but it depends on where you live.

So should you fix?

Consumer expert Martin Lewis says that, based on where energy prices are currently at: “If you find a fix for up to 3% more than the current (January to March) or 3% less than the new (April to June) price cap, it’s predicted you’ll save over the year compared with staying on the price cap.”

The best deal currently on the market is with Outfox the Market, which is offering a 12-month fix for 7.4% less than January’s cap and 12.9% less than April’s.

EDF is currently offering a no-exit fee fix, and Octopus is doing the same for existing customers – so if the maths work for you, these could be risk-free options.

We spoke to Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, about switching.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to fixing an energy deal as it will all depend on your individual circumstances,” said Seymour.

“For example, if you have an electric vehicle, you might want to look for a tariff which offers cheaper electricity overnight to charge your car.

“As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend looking for deals close to the current price cap, not longer than 12 months and without significant exit fees.”

Other help

The warm home discount provides a £150 annual reduction on energy bills.

Those wanting to receive the payment must be getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit or be on a low income with high energy costs.

The government advises: “If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

“You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible. You only need to apply if you’re on a low income in Scotland – contact your energy supplier to apply.”

Those on pension credit will also be eligible for the winter fuel allowance later this year – this is worth up to £150.

BROADBAND AND MOBILE

While Ofcom’s new rules banning inflation-linked contracts came into effect in January, many consumers will be on older contracts that will still see a price rise linked to inflation.

This is causing confusion among customers, so for overall clarity: Uswitch says this April’s rises are expected to add an average of £21.99 annually for those on inflation-linked contracts and up to £42 a year for those on newer “pounds and pence” plans that are subject to fixed increases.

How do you know which contract you have?

Many providers started putting customers on fixed increase contracts in 2024 – so if you started a new broadband contract recently, you may be subject to a pounds and pence price hike.

These are the dates the providers started introducing them…

BT/EE/Plusnet: Contract started on or after 10 April 2024
Vodafone: Contract started on or after 2 July 2024
TalkTalk: Contract started on or after 12 August 2024
Three Broadband: Contract started on or after 1 September 2024
Virgin Media: Contract started on or after 9 January 2025

So if you signed up for a deal on any of the above after those dates, you should be on a fixed annual increase – but you’ll want to check your individual policy.

Here’s an overview of the hikes being implemented by major providers…

Consider switching

You might be able to avoid the rises by switching provider as cheaper deals are often available to new customers.

You should check to see if you’re out of contract first, or what the exit penalty may be.

Research by Which? shows switching providers when you’re out of contract could cut bills by up to £235 annually.

If you don’t want to leave your provider, you could also call them and try to haggle down your monthly cost.

Several broadband providers have social tariffs available, helping those on benefits access an internet connection at a lower monthly price.

According to Uswitch, two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist.

Bundling?

You may be able to get cheaper prices by bundling your phone, internet and TV services – though you need to read the small print as exit fees can be significant.

TV LICENCE

The cost of a TV licence will also go up by £5 to £174.50

The rise comes after a £10.50 rise brought the charge to £169.50 in April last year.

If you’re 75 or over and you get pension credit, or you live with a partner who does, you qualify for a free TV licence.

You can apply for it here or by calling TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.

Those in residential care or sheltered accommodation can get a licence for £7.50, while those registered blind or living with someone who is can get a 50% discount.

TRAIN FARES

Train fares in England have increased by 4.6% as of 2 March. Railcards are also going to become more expensive, despite the record-low reliability of services.

The Welsh government matched Westminster’s cap, while Transport for Wales is applying various increases to its unregulated fares.

Meanwhile, the Scottish government will increase all ScotRail fares by 3.8% from today.

One of the best ways to beat the price hikes is by getting a railcard – and they’re not just for traditional concession groups. We outlined all the different railcards here…

How can I use a railcard to save money on my train fare?

How to beat the system

Mark Smith, who set up The Man in Seat 61 blog to help people travel cheaper and better, told Money there were various “traps” people fell into.

Tickets are normally released around 12 weeks in advance, but initially you may only see more expensive Off-Peak and Anytime tickets.

There’s often a gap of a week or two before reservations open and the much cheaper Advance fares go on sale.

Smith says you can save money by purchasing any time before your day of travel – a £30 or £40 Advance fare will then turn into an £68.60 Off-Peak one-way or a £184.70 Anytime, for example.

If you are forced to travel at peak times you should consider split ticketing. For example:

If you’re travelling at 5pm on a Monday, instead of getting a peak ticket all the way from London to Manchester, get a peak Anytime ticket to Milton Keynes and then an Off-Peak from Milton Keynes to Manchester.

One final trap to avoid was exposed by a Which? investigation last year that found train station ticket machines could be much, much more expensive than buying online.

CAR TAX

Also going up is the standard rate of road tax for cars registered after April 2017.

The flat rate cost of car tax from April 2025 is £195 (so an increase of £5).

Hybrid cars get a small discount (£10) but if your vehicle had a list price of more than £40,000 when it was first sold then you may also be liable for the “luxury car tax” fee, which adds £410 to your annual costs.

You may pay less if your car was first used before 2017 – the exact amount will depend on the year a car was registered and the type of fuel it consumes.

Perhaps a bigger change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will also no longer be exempt from tax – those registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate.

Feeling confused? Autotrader gives this example…

It’s April 2025 and you’re choosing between Porsche Macans, petrol or electric (lucky you). A basic petrol Macan will mean you pay £4,680 in car tax in the first year, whereas with the electric one, you’ll pay £10. After that, they’ll both go to the standard rate (£195 per year) plus the £410 Expensive Car Supplement for five years.

WATER

Possibly the most controversial of the April changes is the sizeable increase to water bills.

Bills are going up in a development that has been blamed on problems including higher borrowing costs on large levels of debt, creaking infrastructure and record sewage outflows into waterways.

However, it was reported last March that England’s private water firms made £1.7bn in pre-tax profits – up 82% since 2018-19 – prompting renewed calls for the utility to be renationalised.

The average annual water bill will rise by 26% or £123 in the next financial year alone, figures showed.

Water UK said the increases across households would also vary, depending on circumstances such as water use and whether a water meter was installed.

Get the full story here…

Water bills in England and Wales to rise by average of £10 per month

All water companies offer a social tariff for eligible customers that reduces the cost of water bills – check with your provider to see if you are eligible.

Should you get a water meter?

Martin Lewis has some simple advice on this one: if you have more bedrooms than people in the house, a water meter is likely to save you money.

If your water company says it can’t give you a meter, you can asked for an “assessed charge” – which can offer the best of both worlds. Ofwat explains yours rights here.

STAMP DUTY

Changes come into force from today and affect those in England and Northern Ireland.

The current “nil rate” band (at which you start paying) for first-time buyers will reduce from £425,000 to £300,000, while other home-buyers will also see a reduction from £250,000 to £125,000.

In London, an average first-time buyer could end up paying more than £11,000 extra from April, Santander said.

COUNCIL TAX

Some 85% of top-tier council authorities in England are set to increase council tax by just under 5%.

Additionally, Bradford, Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, and Windsor and Maidenhead have been given special permission by the government to bypass the 4.99% cap – meaning they could raise council tax by more.

Our data and forensics unit has been taking a look at how council finances have deteriorated here.

With the majority of councils increasing their council tax by the maximum amount this month, some households could see their bills jump significantly.

Are you eligible for a discount?

You may qualify for extra support or a reduction in your council tax bill, for example if you’re on a low income, a student, living alone or are disabled.

Another option is to have your council tax bill spread over 12 months instead of the usual 10 – this won’t save you money but could help you to budget, if your council offers this option.

You could also get your home’s council tax band reviewed, which may entitle you to a refund if you’re in the wrong band. However, you should be aware the review could lead to your property being put in a higher band.

STEALTH TAX

Expecting a pay rise?

You may be surprised to see how little translates to your pay cheque.

That’s because frozen income tax thresholds could mean that some people get pushed into higher tax brackets as their wage goes up.

Others could be pushed into paying tax on their savings by breaching the personal savings allowance – which is £1,000 tax-free interest for basic rate taxpayers.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS

If you’re having trouble paying your bills, there’s lots of support out there.

Emily Seymour, from Which?, told Money: “If you’re struggling to afford any household bills such as energy, council tax, water and telecoms, the first step is always to speak to your provider and see what help is available.

“It’s important to remember that energy companies are obliged to help you if you tell them you are struggling to pay and will not disconnect you if you miss a bill payment. You could ask for a review of your payments, a reduction in your payments or a payment break, more time to pay, and access to hardship funds.

“For water and broadband, there are cheaper social tariffs available so it’s worth speaking to your provider to see if you qualify.

“If you don’t qualify for a broadband or mobile social tariff, our research shows you could still make big savings by switching providers – especially if you’re with a firm that hikes prices annually – so it’s always a good idea to compare deals at the end of your contract to find the best offer for you.”

You can check your eligibility for benefits on the government website which may allow you to access lower tariffs and contact your local council to see if you’re able to get support with water and energy bills.

There’s also charities offering help, including Citizens Advice and National Debtline, which are on hand to provide free, impartial advice.

UK

Disabled, autistic and homeless: Who will care for Chloe?

Published

10 hours ago

April 1, 2025

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Disabled, autistic and homeless: Who will care for Chloe?

Chloe Leighton is crammed into the disabled toilet of a busy pub, pleading on the phone with her social worker to find her a place to stay for the night.

She records the conversation because she doesn’t trust anyone anymore. What makes her situation even more perilous is that Chloe is disabled and autistic.

Until recently, the 33-year-old’s life was happy and stable.

Then last November, her father had a stroke and was unable to care for her, leaving her alone.

“Dad would keep me safe from all these people. He was the barrier,” she says.

Due to her vulnerabilities, her local council in Buckinghamshire had a legal duty to find her emergency accommodation and social care support – except she says that hasn’t happened.

At first, the council, then friends and family paid for hotel accommodation, but the money ran out and now Chloe has nowhere to go. 

“Nobody knows what to do with me,” she explains. “I fall through the gaps.”

‘Mould and antisocial behaviour’

The law says that any accommodation must be suitable for Chloe’s needs, but if she refuses somewhere, the council doesn’t have to do anymore to house her – but it can still support her.

So when the council offered her a place in a hostel with a bad reputation in a rural location she refused it.

Around 160,000 households live in temporary accommodation in the UK – and even though it costs councils £2.3bn per year – the quality of it is often poor.

Sky News saw the hostel Chloe was offered. Residents there told us there was mould and antisocial behaviour.

They urged anyone offered a place there to turn it down.

Chloe struggled to arrange a visit to the hostel and wasn’t confident her social care needs would be met there.

A few weeks after she refused the hostel, the council wrote to her, explaining that they no longer have an obligation to find her accommodation.

The pub she was sheltering in had closed. Her friends and family could no longer pay for hotels.

With neither side backing down, Chloe faced her first night on the streets. 

That’s where I found her, scared and alone in the cold.

“I don’t know what to do, I’ve never been like this before,” she said.

I decided to phone the police.

While I was on hold, Chloe received a call from the out-of-hours housing department, who were made aware that we were filming the exchange.

Chloe’s disability needs not met

After weeks of refusing to give her alternative accommodation, she was offered a place at a hotel a short distance away and she accepted.

But when she arrived, there was a problem.

The room wasn’t wheelchair accessible.

She couldn’t use the toilet in the room or anywhere else in the hotel.

Her fears of not being given suitable accommodation were realised. It was 3am.

A Buckinghamshire Council spokesperson said: “We stand by the actions of our staff and as an organisation in regard to the content featured in this piece. We take our duty of care extremely seriously in regard to any resident who presents to us with housing and/or social care need and follow process and procedures rigorously and to the letter.

“We cannot discuss details of any individual case but do recognise the incredibly difficult circumstances any individual or household will be experiencing if they have come to us for help. We keep the person at the heart of all we do, doing what we can to tailor our support offer to their individual needs.

“Some cases can be long and complex, involving various stages that may include an emergency response, other offers of support and ultimately, we aim to provide a long-term solution that meets the needs of the individual or household. At all points in the process, any individual or household has a right to decline any support or options put to them. In such circumstances the council continues to work with the individual or household to seek a solution to meet their needs, within our statutory duties and the resources available to us.”

Last year council adult social care budgets were overspent by nearly £600m, according to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. 

A government spokesperson told us they had “inherited a devastating housing crisis and a social care system” that they are committed to fixing.

They pointed to their provision of the “largest-ever cash boost in homeless prevention services”, adding that they were also “delivering £26bn for health and social care” and had appointed Baroness Louise Casey to lead an independent commission “to build a social care system that is fair and affordable for all”.

Our few days with Chloe reveal a complicated story.

It’s about what happens when someone with complex needs comes face to face with a social care system that is chronically underfunded.

Understanding autism requires time, resources, money – something councils don’t have.

And for Chloe, it’s about trying to find some calm amid the chaos, so she can live her life.

UK

Cost of living calculator: See how much your bills are going up

Published

10 hours ago

April 1, 2025

admin

Cost of living calculator: See how much your bills are going up

Households across the country face higher bills from 1 April. Use our calculator to find out how you’ll be affected.

Council tax, gas, water and electricity bills, broadband, mobile phone, TV and transport costs are all rising. The increases are being introduced to coincide with the new financial year and are likely to hit the finances of almost everyone in the country.

Many of the increases are higher than the rate of inflation and are coming into effect with households already struggling with price rises and cost of living pressures.

Salaries will also be increasing, but some will gain more than others depending on their rate of salary increase and the amount of additional tax some will be paying as a result of “fiscal drag”, where frozen tax bands bring them over higher tax thresholds.

Enter your details into our calculator to see how much the changes could cost you.

Greg Marsh, household finance expert and chief executive of household money-saving tool Nous.co, said: “This year’s April price rises are a nasty blow to households.

“The combination of water, energy, council tax and more all rising on the same day adds up to serious money.

“Plus we’re seeing yet more cynical price hikes from mobile and broadband suppliers. The crackdown on inflation-linked increases hasn’t stopped them from charging consumers more.

“With all this going on, it’s crucial none of us is overpaying. Unfortunately, nine out of 10 of us are doing just that.

“At Nous.co, we typically save customers hundreds of pounds a year on bills because they let things slip, and just didn’t realise they were paying far more than they needed to.”

Figures for average bill increases and salary and tax changes were provided by Nous and analysed by Sky News with additional government data.