The Duke of Sussex has stepped down from the board of an African wildlife charity whose rangers had been found to have committed human rights abuses against indigenous people.
A spokesman for Prince Harry confirmed he was stepping down after being president for the charity, African Parks, for six years before becoming a member of its board of directors in 2023, but said he remains a “supporter of its mission”.
Last year the organisation admitted human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville.
Prince Harry’s resignation comes shortly after it was announced he was relocating with the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet from California to the UK.
Prince Harry’s spokesman said “the Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
“His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”
African Parks manages around 20 national parks and protected areas across 12 countries.
It was subject to an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
The charity said in 2025 it had improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Announcing a “governance refresh of its board of directors”, the charity thanked Prince Harry for his association, saying he had “brought global attention to the urgent need for biodiversity protection for the benefit of people and wildlife, and has contributed greatly to promoting philanthropy for the cause of conservation in Africa”.
It added: “The duke remains deeply committed to this cause, and remains a strong supporter of African Parks’ work.”
The charity’s website says Prince Harry served as part of the expert team that helped implement the first phase of the 500 Elephants project, which was “one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history”.
It saw wildlife experts attempt to move elephants from a park in Malawi to help increase population in areas where they have been heavily poached.
Prince Harry has said helping move elephants to safer homes was an “amazing” experience.
The Sussexes are back in the spotlight after their announcement last week they were returning to the UK imminently their children enrolled in school to start at the beginning of September.
No change is expected to the official status of Prince Harry and Meghan and they will remain as private individuals.
Their pending return to the UK has raised questions on their security arrangements.
Last year, Prince Harry lost a legal challenge over the levels of security he and his family are entitled to while in the UK.
It is unclear what provisions will be made for their security once they return to the UK.
The couple’s plans while they are in the UK are also unclear.
The BBC learned the Duchess of Sussex was in talks to return to acting with a role in Netflix series The Gentlemen, which would be her first significant acting role since her marriage to Prince Harry.
In early 2020, the Sussexes left the UK and stepped back from their royal duties before settling in California in March that year.
Source: BBC