A former royal butler has said this is the ‘last thing’ Harry would want (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The former royal butler, Grant Harrold, has described how Prince Harry being sued for defamation by charity Sentebale is the “last thing he would want”. The Duke of Sussex is being sued for defamation by the charity over allegations he coordinated an “adverse media campaign” which caused “operational disruption and reputational harm”, its board of trustees has claimed.

Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles and Queen Camilla from 2004 to 2011, told GB News: “From a personal point of view, I feel this is the last thing Harry would want. He has had quite a few court cases over the years.”

He added: “I think he could probably do without this, to be honest.” Online court filings show that the Duke of Sussex is a defendant in a libel or slander claim alongside Mark Dyer, a former trustee.

On Friday evening, Prince Harry responded to the allegations in a statement issued by a spokesperson on his behalf and Mr Dyer.

It said: “As Sentebale’s co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.”

In a statement uploaded to Sentebale’s website on Friday evening, the board of trustees and executive director said the charity is seeking the court’s “protection”.

It said: “The charity seeks the court’s intervention, protection, and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since 25 March 2025 that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.

“The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.

“Sentebale has experienced the adverse media campaign as false narratives circulated through the media about the charity and its leadership, attempts to undermine its relationships with staff, existing and prospective partners, and the forced diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charity’s making.”

Prince Harry in Lesothio in 2024 (Image: Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale))

The board of trustees said in the statement that those at the charity have been “deeply moved” by the generosity of donors who have “stood firm alongside them”.

It said the work Sentebale delivers is “increasingly critical”, adding: “The charity should not continue to use its resources to manage and address the damage this adverse media campaign has caused to its operations and partnerships.

“This must stop. The board and executive director have taken this legal action to secure that protection.

“The costs of doing so are met entirely by external funding and no charitable funds have been used.”