Princess Eugenie is launching a special Summer Art Auction to raise money for Horatio’s Garden, a charity that creates gardens in NHS spinal injury centres.
It is a subject close to the Princess’s heart. The younger daughter of The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, underwent back surgery in October 2002 to correct scoliosis – a disease that creates a sideways curvature of the spine. Eugenie had two 12-inch titanium rods put into her back and has not been required to undergo any further surgeries.
The charity auction will take place online from 15 to 30 May. The sale will feature more than 50 pieces from leading UK artists, including Maggi Hambling, Sarah Maple, and Rob and Nick Carter. From paintings, ceramics, and photography, items will range from £300 – £30,000. A number of items were donated by artists specifically because they relate to the theme of nature, with immersion into the natural world, promoting therapeutic benefits for both the body and soul. All of the artists have donated their pieces in aid of Horatio’s Garden, to which the Princess is patron.
“As Patron, it’s fantastic to see all the brilliant artists involved in the Summer Art Auction,” said Princess Eugenie.
“At this particularly difficult time, it is so important that work continues to build and maintain the charity’s treasured hospital gardens across the country and improve the lives of everyone affected by spinal injury.”
The Summer Art Auction will be the inaugural iteration of the event. The charity is joining forces with auctioneers Wooley and Wallis for the sale with all proceeds going directly to Horatio’s Garden. The organisation currently runs five spinal injury centres across the United Kingdom, and donations from the auction will go towards another six planned gardens. Eugenie has served as patron of Horatio’s Garden since May 2019. When the news of her patronage was announced, the charity said in a statement:
“Having undergone surgery for scoliosis in 2002 at the age of 12, Princess Eugenie has had a small glimpse of how it feels to be confined to a hospital bed and understands the healing powers that gardens offer.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Princess notably chose to display her scars from her surgery in a Peter Pilotto dress during her 2018 wedding to Jack Brooksbank.
