Why Prince Harry got scolded by Malala Yousafzai's mom: 'His face went red'

Why Prince Harry Got Scolded by Malala Yousafzai's Mom

Malala Yousafzai recently shared a memorable and slightly awkward royal encounter during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show on October 31. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate recalled how her mother firmly scolded Prince Harry after he put his arm around Malala while posing for a photo.

"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, then 17, explained that her family's reaction was rooted in cultural traditions that emphasize modesty and respect. She later recounted the same story on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show, highlighting her mother’s quick response.

"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."

Despite the initial embarrassment, Malala and the Duke of Sussex later reconnected in 2020, participating in a virtual discussion with Meghan Markle in honor of the International Day of the Girl.

Author’s Summary

Malala Yousafzai shared an amusing memory of her mother’s strict reaction to Prince Harry’s gesture, reflecting deep cultural values and a later friendly reconnection with the royals.

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The News International The News International — 2025-11-04

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