Sophie Helene Cecilie was born in Potsdam, Brandenburg, German Empire, into an ancient House of Schönburg, as daughter of Hereditary Prince Otto Karl Viktor I von Schönburg-Waldenburg (1856-1888) and his wife, Princess Lucie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1859-1903).

Both of Princess Sophie's parents died when she was young, so she spent much of her youth at the Castle Hemius in Fântânele estate in Moldavia, which was owned by her maternal relatives.

The Albanian and Italo-Albanian delegation then visited Waldenburg, Saxony, where they paid their respects to Princess Sophie's family.

Her representational duties and disinterest in state affairs were considered ideal for a royal consort in Western Europe and modelled after her mentor queen Elizabeth of Romania.

Both tombs were found empty and the remains of the princess, the duchess, and the missing teens continues to elude authorities.