Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom
Malala Yousafzai recently shared a humorous and uncomfortable moment she once experienced with Prince Harry, revealing how her mother quickly intervened to uphold cultural values.
An Awkward Royal Encounter
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on October 31, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate recalled an exchange that caught Prince Harry by surprise.
“My mum was also very strict, she wanted me to stick to the 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 and my mum goes up to him and she says, ‘Remove.’ She just, like, shoves off his hand.”
Malala, who was 17 at the time, explained that her mother’s reaction reflected traditional values and a sense of cultural modesty deeply rooted in their family.
Recounting the Moment Again
Speaking later on ITV’s Lorraine, Malala elaborated on how protective her family felt about such gestures.
“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.”
Reflections and Later Connection
Despite the slightly embarrassing incident, Malala and the Duke of Sussex later shared a virtual discussion alongside Meghan Markle in 2020 on International Day of the Girl, suggesting the moment became a fondly remembered story rather than a point of tension.
Author’s Summary
Malala Yousafzai lightheartedly recalled how her mother’s cultural instincts led to an awkward but memorable exchange with Prince Harry, which they later laughed about years afterward.