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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Michael Palin opens up about his grief two years on from the death of his beloved wife Helen Gibbins and says he still talks out loud to her
Michael Palin has opened up about his grief two years on from the death of his beloved wife Helen. The Monty Python star, 82, was married to Helen for 57 years after meeting as teenagers on holiday in Suffolk. The mother of their three children — Thomas, 56, William, 53, and Rachel, 49 — had been suffering chronic pain for several years and then developed kidney failure. She passed away at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead, north London, on May 2, 2023. Speaking to Saga magazine, Michael said he feels grief now and is able to focus on keeping the spirit of Helen around. 'I can see why people say it takes two years or so before your response gradually changes,' he said. 'It becomes less about loss and more about the spirit of that person being around, so that's very nice. 'I feel less grief now, and more that I've got to keep on doing things, looking after the children we made together. He continued: 'I talk to myself as if she's there. I'll show some spectacular bit of incompetence that I know she would have found funny, then I'll hear myself saying something in the way she would have said it and I'll laugh, even though I'm the only one there. 'Imagining her being there makes me laugh.' Asked if he thought finding love again was on the cards, Michael said: 'We were a unit for so long. You can never begin to replace a relationship which lasted 60 years. 'I'm OK living on my own, then I go off to Venezuela or somewhere. I'm not moping.' On living alone, he added: 'I didn't want to be dependent on the family to come around every day. I don't cook, unfortunately. There were various areas like that where I thought I might be a bit vulnerable. 'But it turns out I'm quite good at being on my own. The other person who guides me through that is actually Helen.' Sir Michael and Helen met at the seaside town of Southwold when they were 16. They reconnected by chance in the actor's first year at Oxford University, before marrying at the age of 22. While the BBC TV director was suffering from kidney failure, Sir Michael was travelling to make documentaries about North Korea and Iraq for Channel 5 after he left the BBC in 2012. But in September, Sir Michael expressed regret over this, saying: 'I don't have regrets really. Perhaps towards the end, when I was doing the later travel journeys like North Korea. 'I don't think she particularly wanted me to go away then, but she knew that my interest in travel and other people was very deep-seated, it wasn't because I wanted to get away from home — it wasn't that at all.' The Pole To Pole author recently released a book, There And Back, of his diaries which he said helped him cope with his wife's health issues. He said: 'Helen was ill for a couple of years, so it wasn't a sudden death, and I was helping her and caring for her through a lot of pain. 'Writing this down helped me to deal with it. I needed to remember all that.' Last year the actor heartbreakingly admitted that his late wife's clothes were still hanging 'in the cupboard' as they make it feel as if she was 'still here'. Almost two years since his agonising loss, Michael told how he likes to see her belongings around their home as it reminds him of the time they spend together, with the star adding that it's the reason he will never move. Speaking in an interview with The Times, Michael said on the possibility of moving: 'I don't feel that way - at the moment, anyway. Everything around me has a story or something that reminds me of time we spent together, not in a maudlin way'. 'Just they are the props of your life. Get rid of all those props and I'd be in a different play, playing a different character. And I don't want to do that. 'I know it seems odd, but I carry on as though Helen is still here. Her clothes are still in the cupboards. I don't want to change my life, because I feel she wouldn't want that either. It's still a nice house to come back to. I feel her presence here.' After almost six decades of marriage to the love of his life, Michael went on to say that he couldn't imaging starting a relationship with anyone new as he was still 'bereft' over losing Helen. He shared: 'I shared my life with someone for so long that I find it impossible to think of sharing it in the same way with anyone else again. So in a way, I'm sort of freer.' The TV personality said he found it 'odd' with her not around, especially when coming home from the theatre or dinner and wanting to tell her about his experience. He added that he misses 'the little things' about their relationship, adding that he still finds it 'very difficult' without her - especially when it comes to cooking.
The Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Sun
I found a ‘very comfortable' £12 M&S bodysuit to hide back rolls – it's lightweight & smooths out all lumps & bumps
SHOPPERS are going wild for a 'very comfortable' bodysuit from M&S that 'holds you in all the right places.' So if you're looking for shapewear that is not only flattering but lightweight, then you've come to the right place and will need to check this out. 3 3 3 But that's not all, as this Light Control Seamless Shaping Body is also incredibly affordable - so if your purse is feeling the pinch, you'll be pleased to know that this high-street find is only £12. According to M&S bosses, this seamless bodysuit ensures a 'truly flattering silhouette.' This sleeveless piece features 'light control shaping for gentle smoothing with plenty of comfort.' Not only this, but it is non-padded and non-wired for a natural look. But that's not all, as it also features a no-VPL finish for a smooth effect under clothing. It is made with Special Cool Comfort technology and a 'moisture-wicking finish' which helps to keep you cool and dry. The Light Control Seamless Shaping Body is available in two colours - black and rose quartz. Sizes range from small to extra large and customers say it fits 'true to size.' The versatile bodysuit can be worn under clothes for a smooth finish, or even as a staple bodysuit with shorts on a warm summer 's day. It has quickly proved a hit with many shoppers, as it has quickly amassed an average rating of 4.3 out of five. Spring Into Style with M&S: Your Must-Have Wardrobe Update Not only did many claim that it 'hides back rolls', but others described it as 'easy to wear.' One person said: 'Comfy bodysuit which hides my back rolls like magic.' Another added: 'This is a great bodysuit. Very comfortable and easy to wear.' A third commented: 'Fits great, looks good, holds you in all the right places. My daughter said it looks so good she wants one.' Why Everyone Is Loving M&S Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale revealed to Fabulous why M&S is the shop of the moment. She explained: 'M&S has really pulled it out of the bag this season, there is so much good product to be excited about. 'A brand once known for its 'frumpy fashion' that notion is long gone with it now being one of the leading high street stores for womenswear. 'Its handbag range in particular is super strong with them selling 170% vs plan, with lots more designer dupes for just a fraction of the price. 'The brand is now also the #1 for style perceptions, compared to the #3 spot it had last year, this comes from a really strong design team focused on modernising the brand, not only taking into consideration how the pieces look, but how easy they are to wear also. 'Price is also a big factor with you being able to get many good quality pieces all for under £30. 'After having a sneak peak of the upcoming collection there are so many more amazing pieces that are dropping over the next few months to keep your eyes on. 'Think leopard print dresses, colourful co-ords, embroidered boho jackets, plus lots of swimwear and amazing accessories, as well as great wardrobe staples that will last year on year.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'A lovely smoothing effect and looks great under anything.' Not only this, but another happy shopper praised: 'Lightweight but smooths out lumps and bumps, love it.' But that's not all, as another M&S fan explained: "I like that it's fairly lightweight as I wanted a comfortable everyday smoothing vest. I also prefer that it's not shiny/silky as it feels more breathable."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
JK Rowling hits back at Stephen Fry and says she and the Harry Potter narrator were NEVER even friends
JK Rowling has hit back at Sir Stephen Fry after the Harry Potter narrator accused her of being 'radicalised by TERFs' - claiming the two were never even friends. Fry, 67, previously branded the author a 'friend of mine', adding he did not plan to 'abandon' friendships despite his trans pals being 'deeply upset' by Rowling. But this month Fry turned on the Harry Potter creator as he branded her a 'lost cause' and accused her of being 'radicalised by TERFs' while recording podcast The Show People. Following the remarks, British barrister Jo Maugham echoed Fry's claim that he and Rowling were friends as he wrote on X: 'Really creditable this, from Stephen Fry. I've spoken to so many of JKR's once friends who now despair at her privately but won't do so publicly, which is very much the British way and why nothing ever changes for the better. So well done Stephen.' But in response to the post, Rowling savagely shut down any suggestion that she and Fry were ever close, even if he thought they were. 'It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me,' she replied on X. Comedian and TV presenter Fry previously told how he used to have dinner regularly with the author and described her views towards the trans community as 'strange'. During The Show People this month Fry, who is himself gay, said: 'She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her. 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.' Fry recorded audio books for all seven of the Harry Potter series, but has now turned his back on the author, accusing her of 'mocking' LGBT+ people and insisting he supports the trans community. He said: 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet's nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive. 'I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all. Fry said he was sad to speak out against her, adding: 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting' 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people. 'She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender. 'So I am very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that. My view about all things of sharp and difficult nature is that is is much more important to be effective than to be right.' Fry, who has until recently not spoken openly about the row, explained that he had previously got on well with the author. 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now,' he said.
