In 1800 Beechey submitted an account to George IV for six portraits of his sisters – this one of Princess Sophia, as well as portraits of  Princess Elizabeth (RCIN 403412), Charlotte, Princess Royal (RCIN 403513), Princess Amelia, (RCIN 403414) Princess Mary (RCIN 403415) and Princess Augusta (RCIN 403416) -  at forty guineas each.  

All six portraits seem intended as intimate and affectionate studies of the Princesses as sensitive and accomplished young ladies for their devoted brother, George IV. Though two of the elder sisters are shown dressed in coloured silks, all three youngest sisters appear as here in virginal white. This simple style of portraiture was invented by Reynolds and his rival, Romney, during the 1770 and was associated with sensibility: Sophia's expression perfectly captures the wistful dreaminess encountered in the heroines of most novels of the Romantic era.