Hong Kong actress Chingmy Yau’s daughter Ayla meets Princess of Selangor in Malaysia

Ayla Sham (R), the daughter of the famous retired Hong Kong actress Chingmy Yau, and Princess Tengku Zatashah of Selangor. Photo from Princess Tengku Zatashah's Instagram

The princess shared photos from their reunion on her Instagram on Wednesday, including those featuring their time together at the Istana Alam Shah, the official palace of Selangor, in Klang, Malaysia.

"A private visit to the official palace of Selangor, Istana Alam Shah in Klang, Malaysia for Ayla," the princess captioned. "Thank you for coming."

During her stay, Ayla also participated in charitable activities with the princess, distributing food to the needy in Kuala Lumpur.

AsiaOne reports that Ayla, a 23-year-old online influencer, and Princess Tengku Zatashah, 51, initially met at a fashion event in Hong Kong in June last year. Their relationship has developed a deep bond over shared interests and mutual respect, demonstrated by their support for each other at various high-profile events, including the Singapore Grand Prix last September.

Ayla also frequently travels from Hong Kong to Malaysia, and the princess often refers to her as "meimei" (younger sister) on social media, documenting their meetings.

56-year-old Yau, Ayla’s mother, entered the entertainment industry after competing in the 1987 Miss Hong Kong pageant. She became one of Hong Kong’s leading actresses in the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside stars like Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, and Cheung Man.

The actress has been nominated for four Hong Kong Film Awards throughout her career. She retired from acting in 1999 following her marriage to Sham Kar Wai, a Hong Kong fashion designer and founder of the fashion company I.T., and has reportedly been involved in her husband’s business since.