Prince Harry 'Shoved' by Malala Yousafzai's Mother in 'Terrifying' Moment
Prince Harry was pushed away by Malala Yousafzai’s mother during a photo opportunity, a moment Malala describes as "terrifying."
Unexpected Reaction from Malala’s Mother
Although Malala called the Duke of Sussex "very sweet," her mother was not pleased with his gesture. Malala explained that her mother’s reaction was due to cultural reasons, as Harry had put his arm around Malala, who was a young girl at the time.
"Prince Harry was very, very sweet and he put his arm around me when we were taking a photo together, and my mum because of the culture, it’s a man putting an arm around a girl. I was a little girl and she just went up to Prince Harry and she shoved off his hand and said, ‘Remove - no touch.’ I was terrified when that was happening - poor Prince Harry, his face went red. He was then very very respectful but in that moment, I was thinking of what my mum had seen growing up as a kid."
Context of Their Meeting
- Malala, aged 28, survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 and was treated in Birmingham.
- She met Prince Harry after becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2014 at age 17.
- The award recognized her fight for children's right to education worldwide.
Interview Details
Malala shared these details during an interview with Lorraine Kelly on ITV’s morning show, where Lorraine mentioned her mother’s disapproval of Prince Harry’s behavior.
Summary
This incident highlights cultural differences that played a role in a brief but memorable encounter between a royal and an internationally recognized activist’s family.
Author’s takeaway: A well-intentioned gesture by Prince Harry was met with cultural caution from Malala’s mother, emphasizing respect and understanding in diverse cultural contexts.