Royal shares powerful message during heartfelt visit to spinal injury charity
Princess Eugenie offered a rare and emotional insight into her personal health struggles during a poignant visit to Horatio’s Garden at Salisbury District Hospital — a cause deeply close to her heart.
Now 35, the King’s niece underwent major surgery for scoliosis at the age of 12, an experience that shaped her understanding of healing, resilience, and compassion. The visit on Saturday highlighted her continuing support for patients recovering from spinal injuries, as well as her commitment to using her platform for good.
Speaking candidly to The Telegraph, Eugenie recalled the isolating days after her surgery:
“I couldn’t get out of bed or do anything for myself. I had a corner room in the hospital with two windows looking out over a car park. I was too young to notice I couldn’t get outside; all I cared about was where my parents and sister were.”
The princess, who is 12th in line to the throne, shared that her experience left her feeling deeply insecure, especially when she was unable to wash or dress herself and became self-conscious about the scar running down her back.
However, Eugenie credited her mother, Sarah Ferguson, with helping her transform that insecurity into pride:
“She’d ask me if she could show it to people, then she’d turn me around and say, ‘my daughter is superhuman, you’ve got to check out her scar’. All of a sudden it was a badge of honour… It trained my brain that it’s ok, scars are cool.”
The Princess, who was recently appointed a mentor in King Charles’s “35 under 35” initiative, continues to embrace her journey and use it to uplift others. Her visit to Horatio’s Garden — a sanctuary designed to nurture patients recovering from spinal trauma — served not only as a symbol of personal strength, but also of the quiet impact royals can make through empathy and shared experience.
