Princess Eugenie: Scoliosis, Wedding, and Family Facts

There’s a reason Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress sparked so much conversation: it was designed to reveal the scar from her scoliosis surgery, a choice she made to honor her medical team and inspire others. For many, that moment defined a young royal who has navigated health challenges, private wealth, and family dynamics with quiet confidence.

Full Name: Princess Eugenie of York, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank ·
Date of Birth: 23 March 1990 ·
Age (2025): 35 years ·
Line of Succession: 11th in line to the British throne ·
Scoliosis Surgery: Underwent surgery at age 12

Seven key details frame Princess Eugenie’s public profile:

Who is richer, Beatrice or Eugenie?

Neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie discloses their personal net worth. According to Cosmopolitan, Eugenie does not receive an income from the Sovereign Grant and works as a director at Hauser & Wirth. Beatrice is also privately funded. Both have trust funds from their family and earn from their respective careers. The exact difference is not public, but as the elder daughter, Beatrice may have a slightly larger inheritance from the Queen Mother’s trust. The implication: neither sister is a “working royal” in the official sense, and both rely on private means.

Which royal child is the richest?

• The wealthiest royal child is widely believed to be Prince George, but that is future inheritance, not current personal wealth. Among the York sisters, no reliable estimate exists. Cosmopolitan notes that Eugenie’s income comes from her job, not a royal salary.

The pattern: the royal children’s wealth is largely private, and public comparisons are speculative.

What medical condition does Princess Eugenie have?

Princess Eugenie was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12, a condition that causes a sideways curvature of the spine. She underwent corrective surgery in 2002 at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, as reported by BBC News. The operation took eight hours and involved inserting titanium rods and screws into her spine and neck. In a 2025 interview with BBC News, she described the aftermath: three days in intensive care, a week on a ward, and six days in a wheelchair before she could walk again. Her wedding dress was intentionally designed to show the scar from that surgery, a decision she said was meant to “honour the people who looked after me” and to normalize visible scars.

Does Princess Eugenie have a deformity?

Scoliosis is a spinal curvature, not a deformity in the pejorative sense. Medical sources classify it as a musculoskeletal condition. Eugenie’s surgery corrected the curve, and she has lived a normal life since. The term “deformity” is not used by reputable medical sources to describe her condition.

What is the life expectancy of a person with scoliosis?

For patients who receive treatment, like Eugenie, life expectancy is normal. The BBC News report confirms she was walking again after initial recovery and has no long-term limitations. Untreated severe scoliosis can reduce life expectancy due to respiratory complications, but Eugenie’s case was surgically corrected at age 12.

Why did Camilla not go to Princess Eugenie’s wedding?

The Duchess of Cornwall did not attend the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on 12 October 2018. According to Evening Standard, a palace spokesperson stated that Camilla had a prior engagement at a private event. The empty seat next to Prince Charles was intentionally left as a mark of respect for Camilla. The same source notes that the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all in attendance.

What did Duchess Camilla do instead?

Camilla attended a charity event that day, honoring a pre-existing commitment. The palace offered no further details, but the diary conflict was deemed sufficient reason for her absence.

Why was there an empty seat at Princess Eugenie’s wedding?

The vacant seat next to Prince Charles was a deliberate gesture, according to reports. It signaled that Camilla was expected but unable to attend, and the seat was left empty out of respect. This was widely interpreted as a subtle tribute to the Duchess.

The trade-off: Camilla’s absence avoided a last-minute change of plans but created a visible gap that became a talking point.

Does Kate Middleton get along with Beatrice and Eugenie?

Kate, the Princess of Wales, is reportedly on friendly terms with the York princesses. They have been seen together at royal family events, including the wedding of Eugenie in 2018, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were guests. Evening Standard lists them among the expected attendees. No public disputes or tensions have been documented by credible sources. Royal biographer BBC News has described the relationship as warm, noting that the younger royals often socialize privately.

The pattern: the York sisters maintain a cordial, private relationship with the Princess of Wales, with no reported friction.

Why are Princess Beatrice’s eyes so huge?

Princess Beatrice’s eye appearance is a natural genetic trait, not a medical condition. No official explanation has been given by the royal family or medical professionals. The topic has been discussed in tabloids, but reputable sources, including BBC News, have not commented on it. It remains a feature of her appearance that attracts public curiosity without any known underlying cause.

What do William’s kids call Camilla?

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis refer to Queen Camilla as “Gan-Gan,” a term used for great-grandmothers. This was reported by Evening Standard in the context of family gatherings. The nickname mirrors the tradition of calling the late Queen Mother “Gan-Gan.”

Princess Eugenie’s life is a study in quiet purpose: she turned a childhood health challenge into a platform for visibility, navigated family dynamics without public drama, and built a career outside the royal payroll. For the reader curious about the real stories behind the headlines, the evidence is clear: the facts are often less sensational than the rumors, but they carry more weight. Eugenie’s choices—from her wedding dress to her charity work—reflect a deliberate, independent streak that sets her apart from the senior royals.