This painting tells a story about my family. I am Sophie Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, the second wife of William the First of Brandenburg. Here I sit on the throne next to my husband. Some say I am a schemer. But Berlin owes me a lot, such as the Dorotheenstadt. I had seven children. But the heir to the throne remained Frederick, William’s son from his first marriage. He is missing in this painting. Did I make sure of that? That’s what people say. Because here in armour is Prince Philipp, my eldest, standing beside his father the Elector. My two younger ones hold the elector's coronet, the symbol of sovereignty. Some say I commissioned the painting to claim the throne for my children. We do not know for sure, if Dorothea commissioned this painting. But the dispute over the Elector's succession was real. After his death he intended to divide Brandenburg-Prussia equally among his sons. But his last will was revoked: his first-born Frederick inherited the estate. However, he had to pay off William’s other sons. It took him 13 years to succeed. As Frederick the First he crowned himself the first King in Prussia.