HRH Princess Sophia

Artist Andrew Robertson (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1777 - 1845)

Associated Princess Sophia Matilda (London, England, 1773 - 1844)

Date1807

Mediumwatercolour on ivory

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 10.6 cm, Width: 7.9 cm
Frame: Height: 43.5 cm, Width: 37.1 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1914 by Miss Emily Robertson.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationOn Display - Gallery 18

Object numberABDAG008244

Keywords

About MePrincess Sophia Matilda (1777 -1848) was the twelfth child and fifth daughter of George III. Like most of her sisters, she 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 but Sophia rebelled against this circumscribed life and in her early twenties had an affair with her father's chief equerry, General Thomas Garth (1744 - 1829) an officer in the First Royal Dragoons.

In 1800 Princess Sophia gave birth to an illegitimate son, Thomas Garth (1800-1875). The child was brought up by his father in Islington House, Puddletown, Dorchester, Dorset, which was often visited by the royal family en route for Weymouth.

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.

More About Me

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Sophia, twelfth child of King George III, led a sheltered life, but still managed to give birth to an illegitimate son by her father’s chief equerry, General Thomas Garth.

Exhibitions

Gallery 18 - People & Portraits