She was not known widely even within her native Pakistan until recently, but today, 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai is topping the popularity chart all over the world. When she had an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Friday, Malala went on to gain even more fame. Because of Taliban extremists, who shot Malala in her head from close range, today the Pakistani girl is identified all over the world as a symbol of promoting education among girls, not only in her country but everywhere.

The meeting between Malala and the 87-year-old queen, who was accompanied by her 92-year-old husband, Prince Philip, was viewed by the entire world with intense interest because both women – one a very popular person for decades and the other getting ready to play a major role in world politics – stand for social rights and the betterment of women. The so-called generation gap between them, therefore, could hardly be noticed.

“Great Honor”

Although the duo chatted only for a very brief time at Buckingham Palace, they had so much to exchange between themselves. For instance, Malala, who was joined by her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, presented a copy of her memoir “I Am Malala” to the queen. A visibly excited Malala told the queen that she considered it to be a great honor to come to the palace. “It’s nice to meet you and it’s a great honor coming here, and I wanted to present you my book”, Malala, who has been staying in Britain ever since the assassination attempt while riding her school bus in her homeland last year, said.

Soon after accepting the book as a gift the British monarch replied” “That’s very kind of you. Thank you very much indeed”. That short but sweet remark was enough to bring smiles on the face of a young girl, who has taken it as a challenge to advocate education for girls the world over. Malala was also quick to make use of the occasion to tell the queen that she was looking forward to work with the monarch to reach education to every girl child. “I hope that we will all work together for the education of every child, and especially in this country as well, because I have heard about many children that cannot go to school.”

Prince Philip at It Again

As if wanting to make the occasion quite humorous, Prince Philip then jocularly remarked: “It’s one thing about children going to school. They go to school because their parents don’t want them in the house.” That timely joke was enough to make the trio burst into laughter.

The girl from Swat Valley, who has been tirelessly championing the cause of girls’ education, happened to miss the Nobel Peace Prize by the proverbial whisker, after she was tipped to be a hot favorite to win the most-coveted prize. Only a week earlier Malala had met the US President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama, on the occasion of International Day of Girls. Winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Malala made use of the opportunity to tell the President that the drone strikes carried out by the U.S. in Pakistan can only escalate tension in the region, and that the need of the hour was to promote education.