THE “race card” slur aimed at Prince Harry's charity boss is “hypocritical” after Meghan used the same argument, says an expert.
Dr Sophie Chandauka – CEO of the duke's Africa foundation Sentebale – has been accused by a source close to its mutinous trustees of in arguments over the organisation's direction.
It comes after charity founders Harry and Prince Seesio of Lesotho in a show of support against Dr Chandauka's leadership.
She said there had been “abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir” from within the charity's board.
Misogynoir is the term used to describe discrimination against black women.
Now a source has told The Daily Telegraph: “As soon as anyone turns against her, she brings the race card in and she comes for you.
“She's a very poisonous woman and it's very sad it's come to this.”
The source also said allegedly accused the trustees of bullying when challenged over losing a major sponsor.
The dispute is said to have centred on the annual Sentebale polo cup, which is a key event for the .
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers told Flying Eze: “The whole situation is obviously very toxic and very difficult.”
And added it isn't without its irony, and agreed seeing Harry and Meghan on the other side of such a racism row is somewhat “hypocritical” considering the duchess had accused the Royal Family of similar previously.
Dr Chandauka alleged there had been “weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir”.
Misogynoir is the term used to describe discrimination against black women.
It's understood at least part of the row was sparked by Dr Chandauka's push for the charity's fundraising to be moved to Africa.
Mr Vickers said she is “using every possible bit of ammunition because she's been pushed out and is obviously very upset”.
He added: “Everybody has to be terribly careful whenever they mention anything to do with race issues, because it's very complicated, and it's very sensational.”
He went on to say, while not devaluing Dr Chandauka's personal experience of feeling she's been targeted in such a way: “It seems to me that that is one of the cards that people do play when they're in trouble.
“Meghan Markle herself has played this card once or twice rather prominently.”
Mr Vickers was referring most specifically to the Oprah Winfrey interview Meghan and Harry gave in April 2021 in which the duchess alleged two royals had questioned what skin colour the then-unborn Prince Archie would be.
He said seeing such an argument used against someone the Sussexes are seemingly in opposition with could be interpreted as “hypocritical”.
However, he said he feels, unfortunately, the irony of the situation is likely lost on Meghan herself.
“I'm not sure she's very good on irony,” he said. “To be quite honest, I think she's always moving forward in her own way…
“I'm afraid it's all of us who are relating things back, not her.”
He added: “The further you go out into the limelight, the further you put your head above the parapet, as it were, the more you're likely to be attacked.
“And because she herself has attacked other people it's kind of fair game to do so, because I mean that Oprah Winfrey interview that she did she played some very heavy cards in that all those years ago.”
Mr Vickers said he believes Meghan, however, will stay out of this row as much as possible.
“It's not really a Meghan Markle issue, although I can see how it could be interpreted as such, because she too has entered into this kind of argument about race,” he said.
Mr Vickers added that it's a shame Harry has been dragged into the row, and been forced to step away from the charity, having co-founded it in 2006.
He described it as one of the two main parts of his legacy harking back to his royal days which are close to his heart and which he's worked tirelessly to build – the other being the Invictus Games.
Fellow royal author Ingrid Seward told Flying Eze earlier this week: “I'm absolutely certain that Harry had no idea this was going to blow up in the way that it has, and it would be the last thing that he wanted.
“He's very, very distressed about the whole thing.”
Ms Seward said the royal has a “huge emotional investment” in the charity, with it having been set up in his mum Princess Diana's memory.
“I think he's gained a lot of public sympathy over this, because it's quite difficult to understand who said what and why this has happened. So people just feel sorry for Harry…” she continued.
“He is the founder of the charity, no one can take that away from him, but I think he's floundering in very deep waters here.
“I don't think that Mrs Chandauka is going to let this go, and I think this will go on and on until there is some kind of resolve… She is saying, ‘you can't get rid of me'.”
Flying Eze has approached Meghan and Harry's reps for comment.
