Prince Harry 'shoved' by Malala Yousafzai's mother in 'terrifying' moment
Prince Harry was pushed away by Malala Yousafzai's mother during a photo opportunity, in what Malala described as a "terrifying" experience.
Although Malala, now 28, calls the Duke of Sussex "very sweet," her mother reacted strongly due to cultural reasons. Malala was treated in Birmingham after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012. She first met Prince Harry when she was 17, after becoming the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014 for her work advocating education rights for all children.
Incident during the photo
"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 Yousafzai
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine Kelly show, Malala explained the awkward moment: her mother’s cultural background made her uncomfortable with Harry’s gesture, leading her to intervene.
Malala added that she was "terrified" as the interaction unfolded, while Prince Harry turned red but remained respectful afterward.
Context from Lorraine Kelly's interview
"I know that you met Prince Harry and your mum was not happy at certain things he was trying to do." — Lorraine Kelly
Malala's mother's reaction reflected her protective instincts shaped by her experiences growing up.
Summary
This encounter highlights the cultural sensitivities that can arise during public interactions, even between well-meaning figures like Prince Harry and Malala’s family.