Sophia was considered as a potential bride for the Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (who later ruled as King William IV), but she expressed no enthusiasm for the match.[1]
She lived at Gloucester Lodge on the Gloucester Road from about 1805 and remained there after her mother's death in 1807, but by 1809 she had sold the villa to George Canning. She also lived at New Lodge in Winkfield, near Windsor in Berkshire.
In 1811, Sophia visited the Royal Yacht Squadron, at Northwood on the Isle of Wight with her brother the Duke of Gloucester: the Gloucester Hotel, by the Parade, was named in their honour.[2]
Sophia was an early patron of the new seaside town of St Leonard's on Sea, where she stayed at Gloucester Lodge on Quarry Hill in 1831. The building was formerly named the Castellated Villa, but was renamed in her honour.[3]
Sophia died at the Ranger's House, Blackheath, on 29 November 1844, unmarried. She was buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.[4]
29 May 1773 – 23 July 1816: Her Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester
23 July 1816 – 29 November 1844: Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester[5]
16 December 1834 – 29 November 1844: Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester[5]
As a great-granddaughter in the male-line of George II, Sophia had the style of Highness from birth. On 22 July 1816, Sophia's brother, Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, married their cousin Princess Mary, a daughter of George III. On their wedding day, the Prince Regent bestowed the style of Royal Highness on the Duke of Gloucester. The next day, Sophia was also bestowed with this style, giving her equal rank with her brother.
^Williams, Kate (2010). Becoming Queen Victoria: The Tragic Death of Princess Charlotte and the Unexpected Rise of Britain's Greatest Monarch. Ballatine Books. p. 145. ISBN978-0-345-46195-7.
^"Parishes: Northwood Pages 268-271 A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 5. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1912". British History Online. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^"Gloucester Lodge A Grade II Listed Building in Saint Leonards, East Sussex". British Listed Buildings.
^"Royal Burials in the Chapel since 1805". College of St George - Windsor Castle. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^ abThe London Gazette styles her "Princess Sophia of Gloucester" consistently [1][2][3] up to and including The Duke of Clarence's Wedding, 14 July 1818. After this point, (or at least after her brother's death (his funeral Gazette, 16 December 1834) the Gazette consistently styles her "Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester" [4][5][6]
princess, sophia, gloucester, sophia, matilda, 1773, november, 1844, great, granddaughter, king, george, great, britain, niece, king, george, portrait, william, beechey, 1803, 5born, 1773, 1773mayfair, middlesexdied29, november, 1844, 1844, aged, blackheath, k. Princess Sophia of Gloucester Sophia Matilda 29 May 1773 29 November 1844 was a great granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and niece of King George III Princess Sophia of GloucesterPortrait by Sir William Beechey c 1803 5Born 1773 05 29 29 May 1773Mayfair MiddlesexDied29 November 1844 1844 11 29 aged 71 Blackheath KentBurial10 December 1844St George s Chapel Windsor CastleNamesSophia MatildaHouseHanoverFatherPrince William Henry Duke of Gloucester and EdinburghMotherMaria Walpole Contents 1 Life 2 Ancestry 3 Titles and styles 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife edit nbsp Princess Sophia as a young child Princess Sophia was born in Grosvenor Street Mayfair Her father was Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh the third son of The Prince Frederick Prince of Wales Her mother the Duchess of Gloucester born Maria Walpole was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole She was privately baptized in a drawing room at her parents home in Mayfair Gloucester House on 26 June 1773 by Charles Moss Bishop of St David s She had three godparents The Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn her paternal uncle the Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn her aunt by marriage and the Queen of Denmark and Norway her paternal aunt who was represented by a proxy George III had been asked to stand as godfather but he declined upset by his brother s marriage to Maria Walpole a commoner citation needed Sophia was considered as a potential bride for the Duke of Clarence and St Andrews who later ruled as King William IV but she expressed no enthusiasm for the match 1 She lived at Gloucester Lodge on the Gloucester Road from about 1805 and remained there after her mother s death in 1807 but by 1809 she had sold the villa to George Canning She also lived at New Lodge in Winkfield near Windsor in Berkshire In 1811 Sophia visited the Royal Yacht Squadron at Northwood on the Isle of Wight with her brother the Duke of Gloucester the Gloucester Hotel by the Parade was named in their honour 2 From 1816 Sophia held the office of Ranger of Greenwich Park and had a home at the Ranger s House Blackheath Sophia was an early patron of the new seaside town of St Leonard s on Sea where she stayed at Gloucester Lodge on Quarry Hill in 1831 The building was formerly named the Castellated Villa but was renamed in her honour 3 Sophia died at the Ranger s House Blackheath on 29 November 1844 unmarried She was buried in St George s Chapel Windsor 4 Ancestry editAncestors of Princess Sophia of Gloucester8 George II of Great Britain4 Frederick Prince of Wales9 Princess Caroline of Brandenburg Ansbach2 Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh10 Frederick II Duke of Saxe Gotha Altenburg5 Princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha11 Princess Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt Zerbst1 Princess Sophia of Gloucester12 Robert Walpole 1st Earl of Orford6 Sir Edward Walpole13 Catherine Shorter3 Maria Walpole14 Hammond Clement7 Dorothy Clement15 Priscilla ClementTitles and styles edit29 May 1773 23 July 1816 Her Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester 23 July 1816 29 November 1844 Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester 5 16 December 1834 29 November 1844 Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester 5 As a great granddaughter in the male line of George II Sophia had the style of Highness from birth On 22 July 1816 Sophia s brother Prince William Frederick Duke of Gloucester married their cousin Princess Mary a daughter of George III On their wedding day the Prince Regent bestowed the style of Royal Highness on the Duke of Gloucester The next day Sophia was also bestowed with this style giving her equal rank with her brother See also editList of British princesses British Royal Family House of HanoverReferences edit Williams Kate 2010 Becoming Queen Victoria The Tragic Death of Princess Charlotte and the Unexpected Rise of Britain s Greatest Monarch Ballatine Books p 145 ISBN 978 0 345 46195 7 Parishes Northwood Pages 268 271 A History of the County of Hampshire Volume 5 Originally published by Victoria County History London 1912 British History Online Retrieved 15 June 2020 Gloucester Lodge A Grade II Listed Building in Saint Leonards East Sussex British Listed Buildings Royal Burials in the Chapel since 1805 College of St George Windsor Castle Retrieved 5 March 2023 a b The London Gazette styles her Princess Sophia of Gloucester consistently 1 2 3 up to and including The Duke of Clarence s Wedding 14 July 1818 After this point or at least after her brother s death his funeral Gazette 16 December 1834 the Gazette consistently styles her Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester 4 5 6 External links editPortraits of Princess Sophia of Gloucester at the National Portrait Gallery London nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Princess Sophia of Gloucester amp oldid 1180929429, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
