Princess Sophia of the United Kingdom
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| Princess Sophia | |
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| Full name | |
| Sophia Matilda | |
| House | House of Hanover |
| Father | George III of Great Britain |
| Mother | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Born | 2 November 1777 Buckingham Palace, London |
| Died | 27 May 1848 (aged 70) Kensington Palace, London |
| Burial | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
The Princess Sophia (Sophia Matilda; 2 November 1777 – 27 May 1848) was a member of the British Royal Family, the twelfth child and fifth daughter of George III.
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[edit] Early life
The Princess Sophia was born at Buckingham Palace, London. Her father was the reigning British monarch, George III, the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Her mother was Queen Charlotte (née Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). The young princess was christened on 1 December 1777 in the Great Council Chamber at St James's Palace by Frederick Cornwallis, The Archbishop of Canterbury. Her godparents were Prince August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (her first cousin once-removed), The Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (her first cousin twice-removed) and The Duchess of Mecklenburg (wife of her first cousin once-removed), all of whom were represented by proxies.[1]
[edit] Adulthood
Like most of her other sisters, Princess Sophia was forced to live her life as a companion of her mother, Queen Charlotte. The Princesses were not allowed to mix with anyone outside the Royal Court.
During her life there were various rumours about her alleged incestous relationship with her brother, Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland who later became the King of Hanover. It is unclear whether there was truth to these rumours, or whether they were circulated by Whigs to damage the Duke, who was an extreme Tory and influential in the House of Lords.
Some historians contend that, in 1800, she gave birth to an illegitimate child who was possibly fathered by Thomas Garth, her father's chief equerry. Flora Fraser adheres to that theory, and has questioned whether the child was fathered by Garth or her brother the Duke of Cumberland.[2]
[edit] Later life
After having been blind for over ten years, Princess Sophia died on 27 May 1848 at Vicarage Place, Kensington in London. She was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London rather than at Windsor Castle, as she wished to be near her brother, Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex.
[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms
[edit] Titles and styles
- 2 November 1777 – 27 May 1848: Her Royal Highness The Princess Sophia
[edit] Arms
As of 1789, as a daughter of the sovereign, Sophia had use of the arms of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of three points, the centre point bearing a heart gules, the outer points each bearing a rose gules.[3]
[edit] Ancestors
[edit] External links
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Fraser, Flora. Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III. 2004. London: John Murray, 2005. ISBN 0-7195-6109-4
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