Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom
Malala Yousafzai shared a memorable and awkward royal encounter during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show on October 31. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate described how her mother firmly corrected Prince Harry when he casually put his arm around Malala for a photo.
“My mum was also very strict. She wanted me to follow traditional Pakistani culture,” Malala explained. “When Prince Harry put his arm around my shoulder, my mum came up and said, ‘Remove.’ She actually brushed off his hand.”
Malala, who was 17 at the time, said her mother’s reaction reflected her family's values and cultural customs. She later revisited the story on Lorraine Kelly's ITV show, describing the moment in more detail.
“Prince Harry was very sweet, but my mum, because of the culture — a man shouldn’t put an arm around a girl — told him, ‘Remove — no touch.’ I was terrified when that happened. Poor Prince Harry, his face went red.”
Despite the uncomfortable first encounter, Malala and the Duke of Sussex later reconnected in 2020 for a virtual conversation with Meghan Markle during the International Day of the Girl event.
Author’s Summary
Malala Yousafzai humorously recalled how her mother corrected Prince Harry over a cultural misunderstanding during a photo, a story showing respect for tradition and a touch of royal awkwardness.