On 14 June 1870, Sophie Dorthea Ulrike Alice was born in the New Palace in Potsdam, Prussia to Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia and Victoria, Princess Royal, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria. As a child, to match her sister who's nickname was "Mossy", Sophie was know as " Sossy" by her family. Sophie was raised with a great love for England and she made frequent visits to see her grandmother Queen Victoria, whom she loved dearly. Because of her long stays in England, her paternal grandparents usually avoided her. Sophie met Crown Prince Constantine of Greece, who was called "Tino", while in England celebrating her grandmothers Golden Jubilee on 1887. The Queen, who noticed the two, said as the relationship grew," Is there a chance of Sophie's marrying Tino? It would be vey nice for her, for he is very good." Despite this developing relationship, Sophie's family was experiencing hard times back home. Sophie's father, Emperor Frederick III, was dying slowly of throat cancer, and her eldest brother was becoming very ambitious. On 15 June 1888, her father died, and her brother, now Wilhelm II, quickly plundered through his fathers possessions looking for evidence of his liberal plots. During this turbulent time, Sophie agreed to marry Crown Prince Constantine. They were married on 27 October 1889 in Athens, Greece. The couple produced six children together. On 18 March 1913, Constantine succeeded his father to the throne of Greece, making him King Constantine I and Sophie Queen Consort of Greece. The following year, World War I broke out, and Sophie took it upon herself to get involved. She was involved in some affairs of state and she kept steady communication with her brother, Wilhelm II. Some questioned how much Sophia actually cared about Greece, for example, G. Leon said,
Although some people thought Sophie lacked affection for Greece, many others thought otherwise. During the war, Sophie carried out many charitable works to improve the life of Greek people. The uncaring image of the Sophia was favoured more. In 1916, a fire mysteriously started at Tatoi, the summer palace of the royal family, while the King and Queen were residing there. The fire destroyed most of the main residence and much of the forests surrounding it; the fire lasted for forty eight hours. It is said that Sophie grabbed her youngest child, Katherine, and she ran a mile with her in her arms. The fire was suspected as a deliberate act of arson. The King and Queen left on 11 June 1917, as Constantine was forced to abdicate because of his alleged pro-German sentiments; the couple fled to Switzerland. However they were called back to Greece after their son, Alexander, who was reigning in his fathers place, died. Dreadfully, his second reign didn't last long, for he was forced to abdicate a second time after Greece was defeated in a war with Turkey in 1922. The following year King Cnstantine died. In the last years of Queen Sophie, she was diagnosed with cancer. She died in Frankfurt, Germany in 1932. When the monarchy was restored in Greece, Sophie's remains were reburied at the royal burial ground at Tatoi Palace in 1936. She was buried next to her husband.
0 Comments
|
AuthorHello All! My name is Blake Johnson and I am a passionate royalist and Monarchist. It would be my pleasure to entertain and inform you with all things royal, weather it be history or royal news. I now invite you all to be members of La Cour Royale. Categories
All
|