Prince Harry 'shoved' by Malala Yousafzai's mother in a startling moment
Prince Harry experienced an awkward encounter with the mother of activist Malala Yousafzai after they posed for a photograph together. According to Malala, her mother intervened when the Duke of Sussex placed his arm around her during the photo.
Malala, now 28, recalled the incident during an interview with Lorraine Kelly on ITV. The activist became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at age 17, recognized for her advocacy for girls’ education following her near-fatal attack by the Taliban in 2012.
"Yeah, I mean Prince Harry was very, very sweet and he put his arm around me when we were taking a photo together, and my mum, because of the culture — it’s a man putting an arm around a girl. I was a little girl and she just went up to Prince Harry and she shoved off his hand and said, ‘Remove — no touch.’"
Malala described the moment as “terrifying,” adding that Harry turned visibly red but responded with complete respect afterward. Lorraine Kelly noted during their exchange that Malala’s mother was not pleased with the prince’s gesture at the time.
Background
Malala’s experience reflects cultural norms deeply rooted in her family’s traditions. After surviving an assassination attempt at 15, she became a global voice for education and women’s rights, continuing to speak out on cultural and social issues worldwide.
Author’s Summary
Malala Yousafzai recalled a tense yet respectful moment when her mother corrected Prince Harry, highlighting cultural sensitivity during their first meeting.