Prince Harry dealt fresh blow as he loses key staff member from charity

Prince Harry is said to be on the verge of a “second heartbreak” after a key member of one of his beloved charities resigned. The Duke of Sussex is said to be facing a new headache with the Invictus Games after a major resignation took place.

Melloney Poole has stepped down as a trustee and vice chairman of the Invictus Games board for next year’s event in Birmingham. Her page is no longer accessible on the Invictus Games 2027 website.

Poole, who has been described as “instrumental” for the Invictus team, currently chairs the Florence Nightingale Foundation. She became vice chairman of the Invictus Games board in December 2024, in what a huge win for the charity.

But now a charity spokesperson has confirmed her departure and said she wants to focus on “other interests,” just a few months before next year’s Invictus Games.

They told the Daily Mail: “Melloney has decided to step down to focus on her other interests – not least the Florence Nightingale Foundation.”

The spokesperson added that Ms Melloney’s “extensive leadership experience” had been “instrumental” in establishing the foundations for next year's games.”

It comes as earlier this year, Harry was sued for defamation by another one of his beloved charities, from which he stepped down, Sentebale

High Court filings showed that the Duke of Sussex is a defendant in a libel or slander claim alongside Mark Dyer, a former trustee.

Sentebale launched a defamation action against Prince Harry over what the charity said was a "co-ordinated adverse media campaign” which caused "operational disruption and reputational harm", its board of trustees said.

In a statement, its board of trustees and executive director said: "Sentebale has commenced legal proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales.

"Sentebale has experienced the adverse media campaign as false narratives circulated through the media about the charity and its leadership, attempts to undermine its relationships with staff, existing and prospective partners, and the forced diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charity’s making."

The Duke of Sussex and ex-Sentebale trustee Mark Dyer "categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims", a spokesperson for the pair said.

Founders Harry and Prince Seeiso previously stepped down as the charity’s patrons in support of a group of trustees who resigned after a dispute with the chairwoman of the board of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka.

The Charity Commission subsequently published a report into the episode, criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements.

"The charity seeks the court’s intervention, protection and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since March 25, 2025, that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership and its strategic partners.

"The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.