Electress Sophia was the granddaughter of James I and mother of George I. When Queen Anne failed to produce progeny, Parliament proclaimed the Electress heiress presumptive to the British Crown. A woman of great culture and erudition, Sophia died only two months before Queen Anne, narrowly missing the opportunity to become queen herself. Since then every potential heir to the British throne has been a direct descendent of Electress Sophia. Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1885 Cat. 3