The Duke of Sussex has resigned from the board of African Parks, the conservation nonprofit he led as president for six years before joining its board in 2023.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry confirmed the resignation, noting that while he is stepping down from his formal role, he remains a committed supporter of the organization’s mission.
The decision follows revelations in 2023 that rangers employed by African Parks had committed serious human rights abuses against Indigenous communities in Congo-Brazzaville’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park. An independent investigation found that guards had beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted local residents during anti-poaching operations.
In response, African Parks acknowledged the findings and stated it had implemented new safeguards to prevent future incidents. As part of a broader governance overhaul, several board members—including Prince Harry—stepped down to allow for fresh leadership.
“The Duke is proud of his decade-long association with African Parks and fully supports efforts to strengthen its board,” said his spokesperson. “His commitment to conservation in Africa endures, and he continues to champion the vital work of protecting wildlife and wild spaces.”
African Parks currently oversees approximately 20 parks and protected areas across 12 African nations. The charity recently completed one of the largest elephant translocation projects in history—the 500 Elephants initiative—which successfully relocated animals from Liwonde National Park in Malawi to safer habitats in areas heavily impacted by poaching. Prince Harry participated in the early stages of this effort, describing the operation as “amazing.”
The news of Prince Harry’s resignation coincides with increased public interest in the royal couple. Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan Markle intend to move back to the United Kingdom with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. While no changes to their royal status are anticipated, details surrounding their security arrangements remain unresolved following a failed lawsuit in 2022 over state protection protocols.
The couple, who stepped back from senior royal duties in early 2020 and relocated to California later that year, are reportedly exploring personal opportunities in the UK, including a potential return to entertainment for the Duchess, who is said to be in discussions about a role in the Netflix drama series *The Gentlemen*.