Dr Sophie Chandauka, the chair of Sentable, has deleted her social media X account following a wave of backlash from supporters of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A spokesman for Sentebale said: "Dr Chandauka deleted her Twitter account due to the proliferation of online bullying."

An insider who has worked with Sentebale explained to MailOnline: "While the pile-on has nothing to do with the Sussexes themselves, it doesn't look good that much of the venom is from their fans. The couple [Prince Harry and Meghan Markle] have campaigned against cyber bullying and misinformation on social media. I'm sure they will be appalled". Prince Harry set up the charity Sentebale in 2006 after his gap year where he worked at an orphanage in Lesotho. But last week he stood down declaring that the "relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board had broken down beyond repair".

Meanwhile, Alex Rayner, who attended Eton with Harry and went to the North Pole with him in 2012, claimed he spoke to him over the weekend. He said the Duke of Sussex, 40, is "shocked" by the accusations and "feels as if he has had one of his fingers cut off".

He told MailOnline: "He is just beyond heartbroken and flabbergasted that the charity he founded as a teenager has been taken hostage by the chair.

"It feels tantamount to a hostile takeover. He is so upset and hurt and wounded about the things that are being said about him.

"I think it's too early to tell whether he will just walk away now or whether he might try and get it back."

Last week, Prince Harry announced that he and several trustees had quit Sentebale, the charity he set up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation.

Dr Chandauka, who has been chairwoman of Sentebale since 2023, accused the duke of being involved in a "cover-up" of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation and said the "toxicity of his brand" had impacted the charity.

Sentebale is a charity that works with young people and their communities to create sustainable solutions that address issues of health, wealth inequity, and climate resilience - co-founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.

In the countries of Lesotho and Botswana, the charity aims to provide holistic care to young people, including those living with HIV and AIDS, and facing mental health challenges.