Prince Harry steps down from controversial African wildlife charity

Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity ahead of his return to the UK with the Duchess of Sussex and their children.

African Parks manages protected areas in 13 countries, from Chad to Zimbabwe, and admitted last year human rights abuses had been committed by its rangers in the Republic of Congo.

Harry was president of the charity for six years, before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.

He is now no longer a trustee of African Parks, but remains an active and avid supporter of the charity, a spokesman for the duke confirmed.

“The Duke is proud of his ten years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board,” the spokesman said.

“His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”

In 2016, Harry helped move hundreds of African elephants in Malawi to a safer home as part of a project organised by African Parks, describing the experience as “amazing”.

The charity said in 2025 that it had improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.

Prince Harry worked in Malawi with African Parks as part of an initiative involving moving 500 elephants from one reserve to another / Credit: PA

The Sussexes are preparing to set up home in the UK, in a shock development six years after they quit the working monarchy and moved to California.

Their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have both been enrolled in British schools.

Former Suits star Meghan is said to be pursuing an acting role, with reports she is in talks about a role in the third series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit The Gentlemen.

The duke and duchess are planning an “extended stay” in the UK, but it has not been confirmed how long this will last, or whether they will receive any funding for their security.

A long-awaited risk assessment, carried out on the orders of the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), took place at the end of July, but Harry does not know the result, the Telegraph reported.

The duke, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, lost a legal battle against the Home Office over the security arrangements for him and his family while in the UK, after his level of protection changed when he stopped being a working royal in 2020.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who have been holidaying with the King at Balmoral in Scotland, are yet to respond to news of Harry and Meghan’s plans to return.