Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom: An Awkward Royal Encounter
Malala Yousafzai shared a memorable royal meeting that turned unexpectedly awkward. On The Graham Norton Show on October 31, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate described how her mother firmly rebuked Prince Harry during a photo.
“My mum was also very strict, she wanted me to stick to the Pakistani traditional culture,” Malala explained. “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 was 17 at the time, and her family’s protective reaction reflected deep cultural values. On Lorraine Kelly's ITV show, she added more details:
“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.”
Although the first encounter was awkward, Malala and the Duke of Sussex reconnected virtually in 2020 along with Meghan Markle during the International Day of the Girl.
Context of Cultural Traditions
- Malala’s mother follows strict Pakistani cultural customs.
- Physical contact between men and women is often restricted in such traditions.
- The moment reflected the protective instincts of Malala’s family adhering to their values.
This story highlights the intersection of cultural respect and royal protocol in unexpected ways.
Author’s summary: Malala Yousafzai’s mother firmly corrected Prince Harry for touching her daughter’s shoulder in line with strict cultural norms, leading to an awkward but respectful encounter.