Sophie Charlotte was a daughter of Count Charles of Hesse-Kassel (1654 to 1730) from his marriage to Maria Amalia of Courland (1653 to 1711), daughter of Duke Jacob Kettler of Kurland.

She married on 2 January 1704 in Kassel Duke Frederick William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1675–1713).

Frederick William probably suffered from a sexually transmitted disease.

After the death of the Duke in 1713, Sophie Charlotte lived at Bützow Castle.

Sophie Charlotte also visited her brother, Frederick I of Sweden.