Prince Harry Steps Down from African Parks Board Ahead of UK Return

Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of directors of African Parks, the wildlife conservation charity he has been associated with for a decade, ahead of a planned extended return to the UK.

A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex confirmed on 24 August 2026 that Harry is no longer a trustee of the organisation. In a statement, the spokesman said Harry "is proud of his ten years with African Parks, fully supports the strengthening of its Board, and remains a supporter of African Parks' mission" (Hello!).

African Parks published its own announcement on 19 August 2026, titled "African Parks Announces a Governance Refresh of its Board," confirming that the Duke would conclude his tenure as a director (African Parks). The charity — which manages national parks and protected areas across the African continent in partnership with governments — described the change as part of a broader board restructuring. Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan serves as chairperson of the board.

Harry's involvement with African Parks began in 2016. He served as president for six years before being elevated to the board of directors in 2023, according to the charity's official biography page (African Parks). His personal website, sussex.com, lists the role alongside his position as Chief Impact Officer, a title he took on in 2021 (sussex.com).

The departure comes against a difficult period for the charity. In May 2025, Survival International, an indigenous rights advocacy group, alleged widespread abuse by African Parks rangers in the Republic of the Congo, including rape and torture. African Parks acknowledged in a statement the same month that "in some incidents human rights abuses have occurred" and said it "deeply regrets the pain and suffering caused to victims" (Hello!).

Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, said Harry "served African Parks for 10 years while the organisation was responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people" and called for the charity to be held accountable (Hello!).

The charity has also faced challenges at the government level. In October 2025, Chad ended its ties with African Parks over wildlife management failures, only to reinstate the management agreements later that same month (Reuters, 8 October 2025; Reuters, 17 October 2025).

The Times reported that the departure means Harry loses his last formal role with an African charity (The Times).

Separately, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning an extended stay in the UK, the length of which has not been confirmed (Hello!).