Why Prince Harry Was Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mother
Malala Yousafzai recently shared a story about an unexpectedly awkward moment during a royal encounter. On October 31, during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, the Nobel Peace Prize winner recalled how her mother sternly reprimanded Prince Harry.
Cultural Boundaries at the Photo
Malala explained that her mother is very protective and insists on adhering to traditional Pakistani customs. When Prince Harry put his arm around Malala's shoulder for a photo, her mother immediately intervened.
“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.”
At the time, Malala was 17 years old. She noted that her family’s caution is deeply rooted in cultural norms regarding physical contact between men and women.
Malala Reflects on the Incident
Discussing the encounter again on Lorraine Kelly's ITV show, Malala added more detail:
“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.”
A Positive Follow-Up
Despite the initially tense meeting, Malala and the Duke of Sussex later connected again in 2020 during a virtual discussion. The conversation included Meghan Markle and took place on International Day of the Girl.
Author's summary: This story highlights how cultural traditions can shape personal interactions, even with global figures like Prince Harry, while also showing mutual respect and connection beyond initial misunderstandings.