Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom
Malala Yousafzai recently shared an amusing and slightly awkward royal encounter during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show on October 31. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate recounted how her mother once scolded Prince Harry after he placed his arm around Malala for a photograph.
"My mum was also very strict; she wanted me to stick to Pakistani traditional culture," Malala said.
"So when I met Prince Harry, we were taking a photo together, and he put his arm around my shoulder. My mum goes up to him and says, ‘Remove.’ She just, like, shoves off his hand."
At that time, Malala was 17 years old. She explained that her mother’s reaction came from deeply held cultural values emphasizing modesty and respect between men and women. The situation, though well-intentioned, left both Malala and Prince Harry visibly embarrassed.
"Prince Harry was very, very sweet, and he put his arm around me… but my mum, because of the culture — it’s a man putting an arm around a girl — she just went up to Prince Harry and said, ‘Remove — no touch.’ I was terrified when that was happening — poor Prince Harry, his face went red," she said on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show.
Despite the uncomfortable first meeting, Malala and the Duke of Sussex met again in 2020 for a virtual discussion with Meghan Markle in honor of International Day of the Girl, showing that the moment had been taken in good humor.
Author’s Summary
Malala Yousafzai recounted on British television how her mother, upholding Pakistani traditions, once sternly told Prince Harry not to touch her during a photo, leaving both amused and embarrassed.