The Duke of Sussex has resigned from the board of African Parks, the African wildlife charity where rangers were found to have committed human rights abuses against indigenous people.
A spokesman for Prince Harry confirmed he is stepping down after serving as the charity’s president for six years and joining its board of directors in 2023. He remains a “supporter of its mission.”
Last year the organisation admitted that human rights abuses had been committed by its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville.
Prince Harry’s resignation follows the announcement that he is relocating with the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet from California to the UK.
The spokesman added: “The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board. His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”
African Parks manages around 20 national parks and protected areas across 12 countries.
The charity was the subject of an independent human rights investigation into allegations that guards it managed and paid had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
In 2025 the charity said it had improved its safeguarding processes both at the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Announcing a “governance refresh of its board of directors,” African Parks thanked Prince Harry for his association. It said he had “brought global attention to the urgent need for biodiversity protection for the benefit of people and wildlife, and has contributed greatly to promoting philanthropy for the cause of conservation in Africa.”
The charity added: “The duke remains deeply committed to this cause, and remains a strong supporter of African Parks’ work.”
According to the charity’s website, Prince Harry served on the expert team that helped implement the first phase of the 500 Elephants project — one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history. Wildlife experts moved elephants from a park in Malawi to help increase populations in areas that had been heavily poached.
Prince Harry has described helping move elephants to safer homes as an “amazing” experience.
The Sussexes are back in the spotlight following the revelation last week that they are returning to the UK this month after enrolling their children at a British school starting in September.
No change is expected to the official status of Prince Harry and Meghan; they will remain private individuals.
Their pending return to the UK has raised questions about security arrangements.
Last year Prince Harry lost a legal challenge over the level of security he and his family are entitled to while in the UK.
It remains unclear what security provisions will be made once they return.
The couple’s plans while in the UK are also unclear.
The BBC has learned that the Duchess of Sussex was in talks to return to acting with a role in the Netflix series The Gentlemen — her first significant acting role since her marriage to Prince Harry.
In early 2020 the Sussexes left the UK, stepped back from royal duties and settled in California in March that year.