Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom
Malala Yousafzai recently shared an amusing but awkward moment she experienced with Prince Harry. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate opened up about it during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show on October 31.
“My mum was also very strict; she wanted me to stick to the Pakistani traditional culture,” said Malala. “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.”
Malala, who was 17 at the time, recalled how her mother’s reaction reflected their family’s strong cultural values and protective nature. The moment became a mix of humor and discomfort for everyone involved.
“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 him and said, ‘Remove — no touch.’ I was terrified when that was happening. Poor Prince Harry, his face went red,” she explained later during an interview on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show.
Despite the awkward start, Malala and the Duke of Sussex later reconnected in 2020 for a virtual conversation with Meghan Markle to mark the International Day of the Girl.
Author’s Summary
Malala Yousafzai recalled a humorous yet tense moment when her mother scolded Prince Harry for cultural reasons, turning an innocent photo into an unforgettable encounter.