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

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 an episode of The Graham Norton Show aired on October 31, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate recalled how her mother firmly reprimanded Prince Harry.

Strict Cultural Boundaries

Malala explained that her mother was very traditional and wanted her to adhere to Pakistani cultural norms. During a photo session, Prince Harry put his arm around Malala’s shoulder, which caused her mother to react immediately.

“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.”

Protective Cultural Instincts

At the time, Malala was 17 years old. She clarified in a later interview on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show the cultural reasons behind her mother’s reaction:

“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.”

Reconnecting Later

Despite the initial awkwardness, Malala and Prince Harry later reconnected in 2020. They had a virtual meeting with Meghan Markle on the International Day of the Girl.

Summary

This encounter highlights how cultural differences can create unexpected moments, even among well-meaning individuals.

Author's summary: Malala’s mother firmly enforced cultural boundaries during their first photo with Prince Harry, leading to an awkward but memorable royal encounter.

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

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