Hedvig Sophia Augusta of Sweden, Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp, was the eldest child of Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrike Eleonore of Denmark. She was heiress presumptive to the Swedish throne from her birth until that of her brother one year later and again from the start of his reign as King of Sweden, in 1697, until her death and the regent of the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp for her minor son from 1702 to 1708. Some sources refer to her as Sofia.
Princess Hedvig Sofia by David von Krafft.
Painting of Princess Hedvig Sofia of Sweden and her brother, the future Charles XII of Sweden.
Charles XI or Carl was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period of Swedish history known as the Swedish Empire (1611–1721).
Portrait by David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, 1689
Charles at the age of five, dressed as a Roman emperor. Painting by Ehrenstrahl.
Läckö Castle, one of many mansions reclaimed by the Crown. Engraving by Willem Swidde from circa 1700 in Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna.
Queen Ulrika Eleonora, Charles's wife