Princess Eugenie has spoken candidly about her previous health battle as she revealed she once “couldn’t get out of bed or do anything for myself”.
The 35-year-old royal, the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, underwent surgery for scoliosis aged just 12 in 2002.
Eugenie was speaking as she attended Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital where she spoke with patients and reflected on her own health journey.
Twenty-three years ago, she spent weeks at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital to receive treatment for the rare spinal condition.
Princess Eugenie reflected on her time suffering from scoliosis in her youth.
PA
The royal spent three days in intensive care, a week in a ward and a final six days in a wheelchair as she underwent hertreatment – including harrowingly invasive eight-hour surgery.
“I couldn’t get out of bed or do anything for myself,” Eugenie revealed to The Telegraph about her time in hospital where she was forced to be secluded inside.
She explained: “All I cared about was where my parents and sister were.”
“When you’re in a bed for as long as I was, not being able to walk to a shower, and having to be rolled around by nurses, you can’t really think past how you’re going to get out of bed," Eugenie added.
Eugenie revealed she struggled to 'get out of bed or do anything for myself' while being treated for the spinal condition.
Getty
Not only was she wracked by the feeling she “couldn’t reach” people outside, Eugenie admitted she also felt shame during her battle with scoliosis.
"I felt very embarrassed about the whole thing. I don’t know why or where it came from,” she admitted.
She recalled being awoken on the morning of her surgery and hiding beneath her blanket, saying: “I don’t want to see anyone, and I don’t want them to see me.”
Her heartbreaking self-doubt was only intensified after the procedure, as she was left with a huge scar down her back and an inability to wash herself.
Eugenie credits her mother, Sarah Ferguson, with helping her through the tough time.
PA
Eugenie’s mother, Sarah Ferguson, was on hand to try and comfort her daughter who the royal described as “amazing”.
To help break down her daughters fear of stigma, Fergie would ask her if she could show the scar to others.
“My daughter is superhuman, you’ve got to check out her scar,” the 35-year-old remembered her mother saying.
“All of sudden it was a badge of honour – a cool thing I had. It trained my brain that it’s ok, scars are cool. It became a positive memory, a part of me, that I could do something with in the future. I could help heal other people,” Eugenie explained.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Many years on from that troubling time, the royal is now attempting to pass on the came confidence instilled by her mother onto others.
Eugenie revealed she often receives messages from nervous parents whose children are also awaiting spinal surgery.
To help, she often speaks to the children over the phone to help gee them up.
“A little voice comes on the phone and they don’t know what questions to ask. I tell them not to feel ashamed – not just of the scar but of the whole experience; bed pans, the lot,” she explained while speaking with The Telegraph.
Referring to the “literal angels” nurses, Eugenie advised the children never to “feel nervous about letting them look after you”.
