Prince Harry visited a Danish bakery this morning to meet volunteers and service users from mental health campaign One of Us in Copenhagen, where he warned of the dangers of social media for young people.
Speaking to ambassadors from the campaign, he said:
‘People are spending far too much time online and it’s like a mental running machine that they can’t get off. ‘You wouldn’t put your body through such a workout. I’m the last person to say ban it but people are suffering from mental fatigue and getting burnt out. We all need to talk to each other more.’
Harry was given a tour of the bakery kitchen by head chef Claus Borre but declined a Danish pastry on his visit.
Speaking afterwards, charity ambassador Troels Torp said: ‘It was great to talk to the Prince as I thought he was an equal.
‘You could see he had been in a dark place once himself because of his mother and that’s why he can relate to us. He was very kind and caring and down to earth.’
On the second day of his visit to Denmark, the royal was joined by Prince Joaquim, the youngest son of Queen Margrethe II for an engagement at the Copenhagen Danish Veterans Centre.
The centre uses sport and teamwork are used to rehabilitate wounded soldiers.
Harry was also greeted by previous Invictus competitors at the Danish Defence Centre for Military Physical Training in Copenhagen.
As he watched a game of rolling football, which sees veterans lie on skateboard style boards, Harry narrowly avoided being hit in the legs.
He was reunited with Maurice Manuel, 41, a Danish veteran who has served in all three of the Invictus games.
An image taken in Toronto of Harry kissing Maurice’s head was broadcast around the world.
When the prince first saw him again, he joked that Maurice was growing his hair to avoid being kissed again.
There was laughter as the prince said: ‘My lips have never recovered’.
Speaking after his time with the royal, Maurice said:
‘It was amazing as always. The work he is doing is alpha mega.’
He said Harry’s visit had shifted the ‘focus’ onto the games in Denmark and the plight of wounded veterans.
‘There hasn’t been that much coverage… suddenly everyone is asking about it,’ he said.
The prince arrived in the city on Wednesday morning, after travelling to Denmark on a private plane, and started the trip with an audience with the Danish Queen at the Palace of Amalienborg.
He then visited social project KPH where he met entrepreneurs including Syrian refugee Noura Bittar Soeborg, who introduced him to her baby daughter.
He went on to the offices of Game, where he saw young people taking part in activities including basketball and parkour
The trip to Denmark is the latest in a series of European trips made by the royal family this year, following last year’s Brexit vote.
In his speech on Wednesday, Harry spoke of the ‘strong ties’ between the two countries.
He said: ‘This trip is a clear reminder of the shared values and strong alliance the UK has with Denmark.
‘Our two countries have an unbreakable bond which is as strong now as it ever has been.’
