Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks, ending a decade-long association with the conservation charity after it acknowledged human rights abuses by rangers working in the Democratic Republic of Congo? No, Congo-Brazzaville. The Duke of Sussex remains a supporter of the organisation’s mission, according to a spokesman.
The Prince Harry African Parks board resignation follows his six years as the charity’s president and a further period as a member of its board of directors, a role he took up in 2023. His spokesman said the Duke was proud of his 10 years with African Parks and supported efforts to strengthen its board.
“His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission,” the spokesman said.
Prince Harry African Parks board role ends during governance changes
African Parks announced what it described as a refresh of its board of directors. In a statement thanking Prince Harry for his association with the charity, it said he had helped bring international attention to biodiversity protection and had contributed to philanthropy supporting conservation in Africa.
The organisation added that the Duke remained deeply committed to the cause and continued to support its work. It did not give a reason for his departure from the board.
African Parks manages about 20 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries. It was subject to an independent human rights investigation after allegations that guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo-Brazzaville.
The charity admitted last year that human rights abuses had been committed by its rangers. In 2025, it said it had improved its safeguarding procedures at Odzala-Kokoua and across the organisation.
The Prince Harry African Parks resignation comes shortly after the Sussexes announced plans to relocate from California to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are expected to return later this month, with the children due to start school at the beginning of September.
The move has placed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back in the public spotlight. No change is expected to their official status, and they will remain private individuals.
Conservation work and future plans
Prince Harry’s relationship with African Parks included work connected to the 500 Elephants project. The charity’s website says he was part of an expert team involved in the first phase of the initiative, which sought to move elephants from a park in Malawi to areas where populations had been severely affected by poaching.
The project was described as one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history. Prince Harry previously called helping to move the animals to safer homes an “amazing” experience.
He was photographed watching an anti-poaching demonstration in Malawi in 2019. His departure from the board does not represent an end to his stated interest in African conservation, with his spokesman stressing that he continues to support the charity’s mission.
The Duke’s return to the UK has also raised questions about security arrangements for him and his family. He lost a legal challenge last year over the level of security to which he and his family are entitled while in the country. It remains unclear what arrangements will be made when they return.
The couple’s plans during their time in the UK have not been set out. The BBC has also reported that Meghan may return to acting in a role in the Netflix series The Gentlemen, which would be her first significant acting role since marrying Prince Harry.
The Sussexes left the UK in early 2020 and stepped back from royal duties before settling in California in March of that year. The latest Prince Harry African Parks resignation marks a change in his formal role with the charity, while his spokesman and the organisation both say his support for African conservation continues.
Source: BBC News
