She was the daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, and Anne, Princess Royal.

Then, Princess Carolina's paternal grandmother, Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel, was made regent.

Because of her position as the heir of her brother, the couple lived in The Hague at the Korte Voorhout and her spouse was appointed colonel in the Dutch army.

So, Princess Carolina, being a legal adult, closest senior relative and the heir of the ruler, was therefore made regent.

[2] After her brother married and started to have children, Princess Carolina, now further and further away from the succession line, left for Germany.