A charity that Prince Harry helps to spearhead has hit the headlines after an African country cut close links with it – and one expert believes it might be a lesson for the Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry may have stepped out with wife Meghan in New York City, highlighting charitable causes in the Big Apple. But the Duke of Sussex has seemingly suffered a series of blows when it comes to his charitable endeavours in Africa.

Earlier this year, he stepped down from Sentebale, an organisation he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Botswana and Lesotho, following a public war of words with its chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, who levelled accusations of bullying and harassment against the duke, which he denied. And last week it emerged that an African wildlife charity part run by the Duke of Sussex has seen its mandates to manage key animal reservations in Chad withdrawn by the country’s government.

Prince Harry during an appearance in New York (Image: Variety via Getty Images)

African Parks managed 22 national parks and protected areas across 12 countries, including two wildlife reserves in Chad – the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

But the non-profit organisation, of which Harry is a board member and former president, said on Tuesday that the Chadian government had ended its mandates to manage the wildlife reserves.

A minister from the country said in a statement that the charity had showed “a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government”. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, Harry “certainly isn’t having much luck with his charity work in Africa”.

Harry on a visit to Lesotho in 2006, the year he set up Sentebale (Image: PA)

And she believes it could be a wake-up call. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “Although he doesn’t seem to be directly implicated in this latest fallout, the Chad Government does cite what it perceives to be his charity’s ‘arrogant and disrespectful behaviour’.

“I think he has probably now learned that setting up charities and managing them successfully is a complex business. And, through no fault of his own, Harry doesn’t have much experience of running a business.”

In response to Chad cutting ties, African Parks said it is in talks to “better understand the government’s position” and “explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes”.

The charity added: “African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.”

And Jennie added: “Perhaps Harry would be better advised in future to use his platform, and it is a powerful and influential platform, to support established charities and causes he believes in — without getting involved in their management.

“He already does that with the WellChild Awards, and his attendance is hugely valuable in every way. Having said that, his Invictus Games are an undoubted success and go from strength to strength. So he must be doing something right!”