Princess Eugenie thanks mother Fergie for encouraging her to be 'proud' of her scoliosis scar and 'removing the stigma' from the spinal condition
- The Princess thanked the Duchess of York for catching the condition early
Princess Eugenie has praised her mother, Sarah Ferguson, for catching her scoliosis early and raising her to be proud of her scar.
The royal mother-of-two, 34, posted a sweet tribute to the Duchess of York on Instagram, where she has spent the week making further posts to raise awareness of the condition.
Sharing a photo of herself as a toddler being led out of a car by Fergie, Eugenie wrote: 'My mum caught my scoliosis early and I was lucky enough to get the help I needed at 12 years old.
'I thank her so much for that and also thank her for the confidence to be proud of my scar.
'She removed all the stigma around having scoliosis for me by confidently showing people what I’d been through and it took all the fear and anxiety out of being different at such a young age.
Princess Eugenie shared a sweet childhood photo on Instagram as she praised her mother, Sarah Ferguson, for giving her the confidence to proudly display her scoliosis scar
'I am forever grateful and wish everyone to be proud of their scars.'
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine which can cause uneven shoulders. Many people who suffer from the condition struggle to find clothes that fit due to the body shape it creates.
Although treatment is not always necessary for the condition, some people who develop scoliosis can be required to wear a back brace to stop the curve worsening as they get older.
In cases where surgery is required, patients may undergo a spinal fusion operation; a procedure that can last up to seven hours.
Eugenie, who is very close with her mother and sister, Princess Beatrice, said the Duchess of York spotted signs of scoliosis early
Earlie this week, Eugenie shared a photo of herself in her wedding gown in which her scoliosis scar was visible
As for Eugenie, she has previously revealed she had rods inserted into her spine when she was 12 years old.
Writing for the RNOH Charity, she said: ;In 2002, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), and told that I would need corrective surgery.
'This was, of course, a scary prospect for a 12-year-old; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt in the days and weeks before the operation.
The Princess continued: 'During my operation, which took eight hours, my surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of my spine and one-and-a-half inch screws at the top of my neck.
'After three days in intensive care, I spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but I was walking again after that.'
Earlier this week, Eugenie posted a photo of herself on her wedding day, in which her scar, which runs down her spine, is visible thanks to her low-back bridal gown.
She shared the snap in honour of International Scoliosis Awareness Day and encouraged other people to share photos of their scars with her in return.
Eugenie wrote: 'Let’s be proud of our scars! I’d love to repost any of your images on my stories so please tag me and I will share.
'To all of you who have just received the diagnosis, to those wearing braces, to those recovering from an operation and for those who have lived with a scar for years - My thoughts are with you on Scoliosis Awareness Day.
'Thank you to the doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and researchers at Scoliosis Support & Research.'
After seeing the post, her mother Fergie posted a heart emoji in response.
Princess Eugenie has long share a close relationship with her mother, whom she credits with helping her process her condition from a young age.
As one of the few members of the royal family to regularly use social media, Eugenie often uses her Instagram account to heap praise on her mother.
She has previously paid tribute to her mother and sister on International Women's Day, on which she shares her love for the top two women in her life.
