Thread - Princess Eugenie and scoliosis

At the age of 12, Princess Eugenie was diagnosed with scoliosis. This is a sideways curve of the spine - usually a S or a C shape - that causes the spine to lead to one side, causing uneven shoulders or hips.

To correct this, she had go through a complex eight-hour operation in which two metal rods and eight one-inch screws were inserted in her back. After three days in intensive care, she spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, before gradually walking again.

Eugenie never forgot this experience, and later became a Royal Patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, where she had been treated.
She regularly visits to talk to patients and staff, and in 2012, an accommodation unit at the hospital was named Princess Eugenie House.

In 2011, Eugenie raised money for the RNOH by competing in the Nightrider cycling challenge.

Eugenie's beautiful backless Peter Pilotto wedding dress was deliberately designed to show the scar from her op.

Eugenie said "It's a lovely way to honour the people who looked after me and a way of standing up for young people who also go through this. I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it's really special to stand up for that".

Eugenie stayed in touch with the medical staff who had looked after her. Her surgery was lead by consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon Dr. Jan Lehovsky, who was later honoured with an invite to Eugenie's wedding. He described her as an inspiration to others with the condition.

The nurse who looked after her was Maggs McHugh. As well as inviting her to the wedding, Eugenie included Maggs as one of her inspirational women for her #InternationalWomensDay IG post in 2020.

As well as RNOH, Eugenie is also patron of the European School of Osteopathy, a world-renowned provider of undergraduate and postgraduate level osteopathic education.

This is a very personal cause, & she won't forget the medical professionals who allowed to keep walking tall!