Princess Sophie of Schönburg-Waldenburg was the consort of Prince William of Wied.
Background
Princess Sophie was born in Potsdam, Brandenburg the daughter of Hereditary Prince Victor of Schönburg-Waldenburg (1856–1888) and his wife Princess Lucia of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1859–1903), both members of German mediatised dynasties. She had some remote Albanian ancestry, being a descendant of Ruxandra Ghica, daughter of Grigore I Ghica, Prince of Wallachia.
Career
With her husband"s ascension to the Albanian throne she became the (Albanian: Princeshë e Shqipërisë). Outside the country and in diplomatic correspondence, she was styled "Princess consort", but in Albania she was referred to as Mbretëreshë, or Queen. Princess Sophie and Queen Elisabeth sang, painted, composed and played musical instruments together.
Queen Elisabeth played an important role in getting Princess Sophie"s husband William the Albanian throne by asking Take Ionescu to persuade the great powers to select William.
Princess Sophie and Queen Elisabeth both worked to overcome William"s reluctance to accept the throne. Eventually William agreed, and on 21 February 1914, Prince William and Princess Sophie hosted a delegation of Albanian notables at their castle in Neuwied, where William was formally offered the throne.
The Albanian delegation then visited Waldenburg, Saxony, where they paid their respects to Princess Sophie"s family. However, her Albanian adventure proved short-lived.
On 3 September 1914, with the country in turmoil, Princess Sophie and Prince William left Albania, never to return.
However, she officially remained the until 31 January 1925, when the country was declared a republic. Princess Sophie died at Fântânele, Romania.