Princess Eugenie has openly shared the profound challenges she faced after being diagnosed with scoliosis at just 12 years old. The condition, which caused a significant curvature of her spine, culminated in major surgery in 2012.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Eugenie detailed the intensity of her recovery: three days in intensive care, a week on the ward, and six days confined to a wheelchair. During this time, she was entirely dependent on others.
She remembered the initial feelings of shame and embarrassment that accompanied her diagnosis and recovery, emotions that were softened by the unwavering support of her mother, Sarah Ferguson. Eugenie praised her mother’s encouragement, recalling how her mother proudly showcased her surgery scar, framing it as a symbol of strength and resilience.
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Reflecting on her hospital stay, Eugenie recounted: “I had a corner room with two windows looking out over a car park. I was too young to notice I couldn’t get outside; my main concern was where my family was. I remember feeling isolated, watching someone wave to my nurse and realizing I couldn’t reach them.”
Following surgery, Eugenie’s road to recovery required immense patience. It took four months before she could return to school. She described the struggle of grappling with the limitations caused by her spinal injury: “The incapacity that comes with a spinal injury – it’s so hard to come to grips with it.”
Using her public platform, Eugenie has sought to inspire others by embracing her scar, choosing to reveal it on her 2018 wedding dress by Peter Pilotto to promote acceptance and body positivity. She also dedicates herself as patron of Horatio’s Garden, a charity offering healing garden spaces for spinal injury patients, aiming to improve their physical and emotional recovery.
Princess Eugenie’s honest account highlights the strength required to face both physical and mental health battles, reminding us all of the power of resilience and support in overcoming adversity.