Prince Harry's Sentebale charity thanks controversial 'Sussex Squad' for helping to raise funds
Prince Harry’s charity, Sentebale, has thanked the Sussexes’ army of social media supporters for helping to raise funds.
In the charity’s annual report, the Sussex Squad – a group of online "superfans" who have supported the couple since they left the UK – were acknowledged for their efforts to raise money.
The charity, which was co-founded by the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, confirmed that it had received donations through an online fundraising platform under the banner of "Sussex Squad" last year.
The internet army that works to support Prince Harry and his wife, as well as tear down those who criticise them, uses Twitter to mobilise support and raise funds for the couple’s various causes.
Sentebale works with vulnerable children and young people in the southern African nations of Lesotho and Botswana to ensure they have access to vital health services, especially HIV treatment.
The superfans have been thanked by the charity previously for starting a fundraiser last summer to mark the Duchess’s 41st Birthday.
While acknowledged for raising money for the charity, the Sussex Squad has also been embroiled in controversy in the past for cases of online abuse while defending the couple.
'Toxic, racist liar'
In one case, Victoria Arbiter was branded a “Nazi Barbie”, “toxic racist liar” and “Apartheid Vicky” for commentating on Oprah Winfrey’s interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Ms Arbiter, the daughter of the Queen’s former press secretary, described the onslaught from the Sussex Squad as “relentless”, as they ultimately urged CNN to sack her.
Meanwhile, it emerged on Wednesday that the Duke had narrated a new video promoting Sentebale's work to help people with HIV in southern Africa.
He had previously pledged to donate $1.5 million from the proceeds of his memoir to the charity, which he set up in memory of his mother.
In the new video released on Sentebale's Instagram page, the Duke says that the charity's contribution is making a "visible" difference to the lives of young people and their communities.
"Our mission is to help vulnerable children and young people across Lesotho and Botswana have access to vital health services, receive care and support and build skills to be self-sufficient and thrive," he says.
The Duke adds: "And it is not down to us alone. It is thanks to our donors and our partners and importantly the determination and resilience of the Lesotho and Botswana people and their communities. Real change, big change, is possible when we all come together."
A spokesman for Sentebale told the Telegraph: “Sentebale received donations through an online fundraising platform under the banner of 'Sussex Squad' in 2022, which highlighted Sentebale’s work in Lesotho and Botswana.
“Sentebale operated in the same way we would work with any member(s) of the public wanting to raise funds for our work. Each year, we acknowledge a range of individuals, partners, groups and organisations who have supported our work in a given financial year and this year was no different.”
