Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has met human rights activist Malala Yousafzai for the first time during a visit to Oxford University.

Ms Thunberg, 17, is in the UK for a school climate strike, while Ms Yousafzai, 22, is an undergraduate at the university where they met.

Ms Yousafzai, who became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize Winner in 2014 posted a picture of the two young activists, saying: “Thankyou @gretathunberg”.

She’s the only friend I’d skip school for. pic.twitter.com/uP0vwF2U3K — Malala (@Malala) February 25, 2020

On Twitter she added: “She’s the only friend I’d skip school for.”

In another post on Instagram, Ms Thunberg wrote that Ms Yousafzai was her "role model."

Both young women have become household names for campaigning for major global issues - climate change and girls’ education.

So... today I met my role model. What else can I say? @Malala pic.twitter.com/n7GnXUngov — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 25, 2020

Ms Thunberg started protesting outside the Swedish parliament building two years ago, inspiring climate rallies around the world and starting a global environmental movement.

Ms Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban when she was just 15 years old, for advocating for the right for girls’ to go to school in Pakistan.

After recovering from her injuries, Ms Yousafzai and her family relocated to the UK, where she continues to be a champion for women's education, and at just 17, she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ms Thunberg was nominated for the prestigious prize in 2019 and 2020.

Honoured to host @gretathunberg at @lmhoxford today. grateful she found time to talk to some of our students about science, voting, the limits of protest, divestment, real zero v net zero, and much more pic.twitter.com/FjcNEQDTci — alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) February 25, 2020

The pair met at the Oxford college Lady Margaret Hall, where Ms Yousafzai resides, and while it’s not known exactly what they discussed, the principal of the college Alan Rusbridger said Ms Thunberg spoke to students about “science, voting, the limits of protest, divestment, real zero v net zero, and much more.”