22-05-2025
Princess Eugenie stuns at changemakers event after revealing she was 'so unwell she couldn't leave bed'
Princess Eugenie looked effortlessly elegant as she stepped out at London 's Garrison Chapel last week.
The late Queen's granddaughter wore a deep navy blue canvas dress paired with delicate kitten heels and a simple gold pendant necklace.
Eugenie was there on official duty - meeting a cohort of creatives handpicked by The King's Foundation as part of its new 35 under 35 initiative.
The royal, who recently turned 35 herself, was named a mentor for the Foundation's new network of young changemakers - a group recognised for their outstanding work in sustainability, traditional craftsmanship and the arts, all causes close to King Charles 's heart.
Eugenie, who works as a director at the Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery, beamed as she met with woodworkers, stonemasons and environmental filmmakers selected for their impact and innovation.
'I'm delighted to be working with this group of exceptional young people who have been selected thanks to their outstanding work in areas the King is passionate about,' she said.
'Given I recently celebrated my 35th birthday, it's fitting to take part in the charity's 35th anniversary celebrations and share my passion for art with the 35 under 35.'
The initiative marks a new chapter in Eugenie's increasing involvement in royal charity work, one that reflects her own interests and experiences.
Other mentors for the programme include designer Samuel Ross, social media historian Alice Loxton and artist and influencer Sophie Tea.
Among those selected for the prestigious list are basketmaker Florence Hamer, embroiderer Angelica Ellis, milliner Barnaby Horn and climate advocate and filmmaker Jack Harries.
Eugenie's support for creativity and craftsmanship is well documented, but her advocacy extends far beyond the arts.
Last week, the princess gave a rare and deeply personal interview in which she spoke movingly about her experience with scoliosis - a condition that has shaped much of her life and inspired her ongoing charity work.
At just 12 years old, Eugenie underwent an eight-hour operation to correct the curvature of her spine.
Surgeons inserted two eight-inch titanium rods and screws into her back, leaving a prominent scar that she now wears as a 'badge of honour.'
'I felt very embarrassed about the whole thing,' she told The Telegraph. 'I remember pulling my blanket over my head before surgery and saying, 'I don't want to see anyone and I don't want them to see me.'
Following the procedure at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, north-west London, Eugenie spent ten days confined to bed, followed by weeks in a wheelchair.
At the time, spinal surgery patients were kept entirely indoors - a memory she still carries.
'I had a corner room with two windows looking out over a car park. I remember watching someone waving to my red-haired nurse and having this feeling that I couldn't reach them.'
Now, as a mother of two, she admits those memories have taken on a new poignancy.
Her mother, Sarah Ferguson, played a pivotal role in reshaping her daughter's perspective on her scar.
'She'd ask 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." Suddenly, it became something positive. A part of me.'
Eugenie is now a vocal supporter of Horatio's Garden, a charity working to create healing outdoor spaces for spinal injury patients - a cause she says is close to her heart.
The charity aims to reach every spinal injuries unit in the UK, a mission which the Princess feels is of vital importance.
Her royal diary has been filling up fast: Eugenie also made a special appearance at the Buckingham Palace garden party this week, where she was personally invited to attend by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
