Prince Harry admitted he hates tweeting when he turned up in London’s East End to promote the Invictus Games on social media.

East London Advertiser: Prince Harry at Bethnal Green Academy... learning to tweetPrince Harry at Bethnal Green Academy... learning to tweet (Image: Invictus Games)

He arrived at Bethnal Green Academy school where organisers were running a training day yesterday for pupils to be ‘digital champions’ to report September’s Games on Twitter and Facebook.

“I really would love to get involved and go on social media if it was for causes,” the Prince revealed.

“But the issue for myself and my family is that it’s hard to tweet about the Games and tweet about something that means a lot to me—whereas at the same time I really quite hate Twitter by the invasion of privacy.”

But that didn’t put off the 60 pupils taking part in the training at the academy, in a programme the Games organisers are running with the Citizens UK community organisation in Whitechapel to which the school is affiliated.

One student, Francis Biyak, said: “Prince Harry sent his first tweet to launch the Games tickets going on sale, so the chance to get social media training from the same team of experts was a unique opportunity.”

They got professional training to become volunteer ‘digital media champions’ ready to report live the action and atmosphere of the Games, using Twitter and Facebook.

Competitors including former marine JJ Chalmers who suffered critical injuries in an explosion in Afghanistan have been giving talks at schools in east London about their experiences.

The Games for injured servicemen and women use sport to inspire rehabilitation and generate understanding and respect for those in the Armed Forces.

Citizens UK founder Neil Jameson said: “These wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women show young people how you can overcome adversity and deal with tough experiences.”

Games organisers have also agreed to the event being a ‘Living Wage’ zone, in a pledge to Citizens UK.

Competitors take part over four days in nine sports—athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair Rugby, road cycling, power-lifting, indoor rowing, swimming and sitting volleyball. A Land Rover driving challenge is also planned.

Tickets are currently on sale at £12.85.