Sophia Magdalena of Denmark

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Sofia Magdalena of Denmark and Norway (July 3, 1746 - August 21, 1813) was a Queen consort of Sweden.

She was born in Copenhagen to King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway and Queen Louise. 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 Castle in Copenhagen. Her strict upbringing made it difficult for her to adjust to the environment of the Swedish court. After King Adolf Frederick of Sweden died 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Widowed in 1792, after her husband was murdered, Sofia lived a withdrawn life and spent much effort on charity.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, after Sweden lost Finland to Russia. He was sent into exile and replaced by his paternal uncle Charles XIII.

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