Prince Harry is “distraught” and believes his “life’s work” has been “stolen” after losing a bruising boardroom battle for control of Sentebale, the African HIV charity he founded in memory of his mother.

The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who founded the charity in 2006, resigned as patrons in March, and its board of trustees quit, following a dispute with the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka.

Prince Harry is devastated by the perceived hostile takeover that pushed him out of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded.