Princess Eugenie has praised her mother, Sarah Ferguson, for spotting 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 spent the week making more posts to raise awareness of the condition.
Sharing a photo of herself as a toddler being pulled out of a car by Fergie, Eugenie wrote: “My mom got my scoliosis early and I was lucky to get the help I needed when I was 12.
‘I thank you very much for that and I also thank you for the trust in being proud of my scar.
‘She removed all the stigma surrounding scoliosis for me by confidently showing people what I had been through and removed all the fear and anxiety 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 eternally grateful and wish everyone would be proud of their scars.’
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine that can cause uneven shoulders. Many people who suffer from this condition struggle to find clothes that fit well due to the body shape it creates.
Although treatment is not always necessary for this condition, some people who develop scoliosis may be required to wear a back brace to prevent the curve from worsening as they age.
In cases where surgery is required, patients may undergo spinal fusion surgery, a procedure that can take up to seven hours.
Eugenie, who is very close to her mother and sister Princess Beatrice, said the Duchess of York spotted signs of scoliosis early.
Earlier this week, Eugenie shared a photo of herself in her wedding dress which showed off her scoliosis scar.
As for Eugenie, she previously revealed that she had rods inserted into her spine when she was 12 years old.
Writing for RNOH Charity, she said: In 2002, when I was 12, I was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and told I would need corrective surgery.
‘Of course, it was a terrifying prospect for a 12-year-old boy; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt in the days and weeks leading up to the operation.
The Princess continued: ‘During my operation, which lasted eight hours, my surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of my spine and one-and-a-half-inch screws into the top of my neck.
“After three days in intensive care, I spent a week in a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but after that I was able to walk again.”
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-backed wedding dress.
She shared the snap in honor of International Scoliosis Awareness Day and encouraged others to share photos of their scars with her.
Eugenie wrote: ‘Let’s all be proud of our scars! I would love to repost any of your pictures on my stories so tag me and I’ll share them.
‘To all of you who have just been diagnosed, to those who wear braces, to those who are recovering from surgery and to 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 maintained a close relationship with her mother, whom she credits with helping her overcome her condition from an early age.
As one of the few members of the royal family who regularly uses social media, Eugenie often uses her Instagram account to praise her mother.
He previously paid tribute to his mother and sister on International Women’s Day, sharing his love for the two best women in his life.