Sophie Magdalen of Denmark

Sofia Magdalena of Denmark (July 3, 1746 – August 21, 1813) was born in Copenhagen to King Frederick V of Denmark and Louise of Great Britain and Ireland. Her maternal grandparents were George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach.

At the age of five (1751), she was betrothed to the successor of the throne of Sweden, Gustav. In 1766 she was married to Gustav at Christiansborg in Copenhagen. Her strict upbringing which made it hard for her to adjust to the environment of the Swedish court. After King Adolf Frederick of Sweden death in 1771, Gustav III became King of Sweden. The following year Sofia was crowned queen.

In 1778, Sofia gave birth to Gustav Adolf, successor to the throne; and in 1782 she gave birth to a second son, Charles Gustaf who lived for only one year. It has been suggested that her husband was homosexual and that her children were fathered by someone else.

Widowed in 1792, after her husband was murdered, Sofia lived a withdrawn life and spent much effort on charity. Her brother-in-law, Duke Karl, became regent, and she eschewed a political role. In 1809, she was forced to witness the abdication of her son, King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden's abdication after Sweden lost Finland to Russia. He was sent into exile and replaced by his paternal uncle Charles XIII.