Princess Eugenie Opens Up About Health Battle That Made Her Feel 'Ashamed': ‘I Had a Big...'

Princess Eugenie recently made an appearance on the 'Lessons From Our Mothers' podcast with Princess Beatrice.

Princess Eugenie recently got emotional when she opened up about a health battle that impacted her life from a young age. Speaking on the Lessons From Our Mothers podcast with hosts Cressida Bonas and Isabella Branson, the royal shared how she was diagnosed with scoliosis—a condition that twists the spine—when she was just 12. Eugenie shared that the condition was so serious that she had to get an operation done. She also took a moment to thank her mother, Sarah Ferguson, for always standing by her.

As reported by OK! magazine, Eugenie said, "I had scoliosis when I was younger. I have scoliosis, and I had a big operation when I was 12, during which my mum basically moved into the hospital with me and was there every waking hour. If I were ever in pain, she was right by my bedside." Refelecting on her time stuck in a hospital bed, Eugenie noted how many parents go through the same when their children face health problems. As reported by GB News, the surgery has left a large scar on Eugenie’s back, which made her feel insecure at first.

The Duchess of York shared, "As a 12-year-old little girl, I had a big scar halfway down my back, and I was terrified of it, and I was ashamed. I didn't know what it was, I was so young." However, she explained that with her mother's support, she was able to cope. Eugenie said, "She used to be so proud of me and my scar and what I'd been through, that if people were ever talking about it, she would turn me around and she would show them my scar." She continued, "It led to me feeling so confident that on my wedding day, I wore a dress that showed my scar to the world because I was like, 'This is the coolest thing ever' because my mum had retrained my brain by her behavior."

Honestly, if that’s true, I say fair play to Eugenie for being honest—we all have our battles, love. No shame in showing the cracks sometimes.

— Yorkshire Lass (@eyup_io) May 8, 2025

As Eugenie opened up about her mother's battle with cancer, she grew even more emotional. She shared that their mother’s passion for helping others has only grown stronger since her breast cancer diagnosis in June 2023. As reported by the Daily Express, she said, "She loves nothing more than meeting people and those that are also suffering with cancer, because there’s so much empathy there."

The reason for the Caesarian section is simple: Princess Eugenie had scoliosis as a child, and had two 12” titanium rods put into her back when she was 12 years-old. She purposely showed off her surgery scar with a low-back wedding gown (she looked lovely!). pic.twitter.com/aeVBbrKbYo

— vbspurs (@vbspurs) June 2, 2023

Previously, Eugenie also asked her followers to share images of their physical scars, if any, encouraging them to embrace them. Additionally, just last month, Ferguson, along with her daughters, Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, also visited the cancer unit at University College Hospital in London. The unit is supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust. They spent time with young patients there. While Ferguson is a member of the Trust, this visit was said to have come amid her personal battle with breast and skin cancer. In her Instagram post, Eugenie wrote, “It is so important to shine a light on the charity’s vital work, and the unique challenges young people with cancer face.”