Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester was a great-granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and niece of King George III.
Background
She was born in Grosvenor Street, Mayfair. Her father was Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, the third eldest son of The Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales. Her mother was the Duchess of Gloucester, the illegitimate daughter of Edward Walpole.
Career
As a great granddaughter in the male line of George II, Sophia was styled Her Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester from birth. The princess was privately christened in a drawing room at Gloucester House on 26 June 1773, by Charles Moss, The Bishop of Street David"son On their wedding day, the Prince Regent bestowed the style of His on the Duke of Gloucester.
From then on, she was styled Her Princess Sophia of Gloucester.
Sophia was considered as a potential bride for the Duke of Clarence (who later ruled as King William IV), but she expressed no enthusiasm for the match. Sophia never married nor had any children.
She lived at New Lodge in Winkfield, near Windsor in Berkshire and held the office of Ranger of Windsor Great Park. She died on 29 November 1844 and is buried in Saint George"s Chapel, Windsor.
Titles 29 May 1773 – 22 July 1816: Her Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester.