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Duchess Fergie has shared the moment at Princess Eugenie's wedding she was most proud. 

 

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When Princess Eugenie walked down the aisle of St George’s Chapel to marry Jack Brooksbank, she defied royal wedding tradition by choosing not to wear a veil.

By doing so, she proudly showed her scoliosis scar which ran down the centre of her back. The scar was from a surgery 16 years ago when she was only 12, and the medical condition is something Eugenie has been very open about.

In July of this year, the 28-year-old shared her X-rays scans which show the eight-inch titanium rods and one-and-a-half-inch screws which still support her spine.

Writing for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital – the hospital that performed her operation – the Princess recounted her childhood hospital stay.

“After three days in intensive care, I spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but I was walking again after that,” she wrote.

“My back problems were a huge part of my life, as they would be for any 12-year-old. Children can look at me now and know that the operation works.

“I’m living proof of the ways in which the hospital can change people’s lives.”

Now, speaking to Hello!, Duchess Fergie shared the proud mum moment when she saw Princess Eugenie in her wedding dress, a symbol of her overcoming her struggles.

“When [Eugenie] walked up and walked tall, with scoliosis… We never thought she was going to be a possibility, and there she was, no veil,” said the Duchess, beaming with pride.

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“Their wedding was about love, inclusivity and future. And then they go forward with strength because that’s who they are. They will always, always be on the edge of inspirational change.”

We recount the best dressed guests at the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.

Video by MMC

Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress wasn’t the only way the royal raised awareness for her scoliosis.

The blush-toned gown she wore to her reception also showcased her scar, with the designer behind the gown, Zac Posen, sharing the low back detailing on his Instagram.

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The surgeon Dr Jan Lehovsky and his operating team, who performed the eight-hour surgery which fixed the curvature in her spine, were also invited by the Princess to attend her wedding.

Speaking to ITV after the ceremony, Dr Lehovsky said Eugenie still visits the RNOH and praised the Princess for her efforts in raising awareness for the hospital.

“She does come on a regular basis, officially or unofficially, [and] usually stops off on the ward [to talk] to the young girls who are going through the same experience, and shares her own experiences. [It’s] actually quite uplifting for the patients,” he said.

“She’s a great advocate for us,”

What did you think of Princess Eugenie’s wedding and reception dress? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.