Princess Eugenie visits hospital where she underwent spinal surgery for first engagement with Jack Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank have carried out their first royal engagement together – at a place that’s particularly poignant for her.
The couple, alongside Eugenie’s father Prince Andrew, opened the redeveloped Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore Building.
The hospital is where the 28-year-old princess underwent surgery to correct scoliosis at the age of 12.
The operation took eight hours and surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of Eugenie’s spine and one-and-a-half inch screws at the top of her neck.
![Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank at the <span>Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore Building</span> [Photo: PA]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DVlrcYsvGMfokPk2jOpInQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/b22f6b5e815bfd0473f67d56d1d9a476)
She spent three days in intensive care, a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair following the procedure, but she was walking again after that.
Doctor Jan Lehovsky, who carried out the operation, was even invited to Eugenie and Jack’s wedding last October.
The bride, who wore a Peter Pilotto gown, asked for a low back design so she could proudly show off her scars from her childhood surgery.
During the visit, the Duke of York (who is the hospital’s Patron) and his daughter met staff and patients, who will benefit from the £50m redevelopment.
![The couple met staff and patients at the hospital [Photo: PA]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/CbPMb1IgYdP6qyM4BRh4dQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/ac2e93250742c8afe73c5b7e880d0dce)
Eugenie, who wore a cream tweed Maje dress for the hospital visit and carried a Chloé handbag, doesn’t carry out a huge amount of public duties.
The newlywed instead has a full-time job as a director at Mayfair art dealers, Hauser and Wirth.
Neither Eugenie or her older sister Beatrice receive an allowance from the Privy Purse – the Queen’s private income. Therefore, they’re not supported by the British tax payer.
From time to time, they do carry out engagements, connected with the charities and organisations they support. Eugenie became Patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s Redevelopment Appeal in 2012.
She and long-term boyfriend Jack announced their engagement last January. The pair were wed at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on October 12, 2018. Jack is a Brand Ambassador of Casamigos tequila, which was founded by George Clooney.
