At the outbreak of World War I on 4 August 1914 Sophia was in Eastbourne with several of her children while her husband and their daughter Helen were the only representatives of the dynasty still present in Athens.
But given the gravity of the events, the Queen quickly returned to Greece, where she was soon joined by the rest of the royal family.

While the greater European states entered into the conflict one by one, Greece officially proclaimed his neutrality.
Being grandchildren of the so-called "Father-in-law and Grandmother of Europe" (as King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria respectively were known), Constantine and Sophia were closely related to the monarchs of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
Above all, the King and Queen were aware that Greece was already weakened by the Balkan Wars and was not ready to participate in a new conflict.
However, the population did not share the opinion of the sovereigns.
Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos hoped that thanks to the start of the war, they would carry the Megali Idea and continue defeating the Ottoman Empire.

Things got complicated when the Triple Entente engaged in the Gallipoli Campaign in February 1915.
Desiring to release the Greek populations of Asia Minor from Ottoman rule, Constantine I, at first, was ready to offer his support to the Allies and bring his country into the war.
However, the King faced with the opposition of his Staff and, in particular, Ioannis Metaxas, who threatened to resign if Greece entered the war because the country didn't have the means.
Constantine I therefore desisted, causing the wrath of Venizelos.
Convinced that the royal couple was in connivance with the Emperor, the Prime Minister tried to bring his country into war despite the opposition of the Crown.
But, facing the united front of the King, the army and the majority of the government, the politician ended up giving his resignation on 6 March.

Weakened by all these events, Constantine I became seriously ill after this crisis.
Suffering from pleurisy aggravated by a pneumonia, he remained in bed for several weeks and nearly died.
In Greece, public opinion was outraged by a rumour, spread by Venizelists, who said that the King wasn't sick but was in fact wounded with a knife by Sophia during an argument where she wanted to force him to go to war alongside her brother.
Certainly the Queen kept a frequent communication with her brother.
In the words of G. Leon, "She remained a German, and Germany's interests were placed above those of her adopted country which meant little to her.
Actually she never had any sympathy for the Greek people".
Other sources point to the opposite, based on her many charitable works and efforts to improve the lives of the Greek people in and around the capital.

The King's health declined so a ship was sent to the Island of Tinos in order to seek the miraculous icon of the Annunciation who supposedly heal the sick.
While Constantine I had already received the last sacraments, he partly recovered his health after kissing the icon.
However, his situation remained worrying and he needed surgery before he could resume his duties.
Relieved by the recovery of her husband, Sophia offered then, by way of ex-voto, a sapphire to enrich the icon.

During the King's illness period, the Triple Entente continued to put pressure on Greece to go to war alongside them.
Dimitrios Gounaris, successor of Venizelos as Prime Minister, proposed the intervention of his country in the conflict in exchange for the protection of the Allies against an eventual attack of Bulgaria.
However, the Triple Entente, although eager to form an alliance with them, refused the agreement.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4 August 1914 Sophia was in Eastbourne with several of her children while her husband and their daughter Helen were the only representatives of the dynasty still present in Athens. But given the gravity of the events, the Queen quickly returned to Greece, where she was soon joined by the rest of the royal family.
While the greater European states entered into the conflict one by one, Greece officially proclaimed his neutrality. Being grandchildren of the so-called "Father-in-law and Grandmother of Europe" (as King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria respectively were known), Constantine and Sophia were closely related to the monarchs of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. Above all, the King and Queen were aware that Greece was already weakened by the Balkan Wars and was not ready to participate in a new conflict. However, the population did not share the opinion of the sovereigns. Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos hoped that thanks to the start of the war, they would carry the Megali Idea and continue defeating the Ottoman Empire.
Things got complicated when the Triple Entente engaged in the Gallipoli Campaign in February 1915. Desiring to release the Greek populations of Asia Minor from Ottoman rule, Constantine I, at first, was ready to offer his support to the Allies and bring his country into the war. However, the King faced with the opposition of his Staff and, in particular, Ioannis Metaxas, who threatened to resign if Greece entered the war because the country didn't have the means. Constantine I therefore desisted, causing the wrath of Venizelos. Convinced that the royal couple was in connivance with the Emperor, the Prime Minister tried to bring his country into war despite the opposition of the Crown. But, facing the united front of the King, the army and the majority of the government, the politician ended up giving his resignation on 6 March.
Weakened by all these events, Constantine I became seriously ill after this crisis. Suffering from pleurisy aggravated by a pneumonia, he remained in bed for several weeks and nearly died. In Greece, public opinion was outraged by a rumour, spread by Venizelists, who said that the King wasn't sick but was in fact wounded with a knife by Sophia during an argument where she wanted to force him to go to war alongside her brother. Certainly the Queen kept a frequent communication with her brother. In the words of G. Leon, "She remained a German, and Germany's interests were placed above those of her adopted country which meant little to her. Actually she never had any sympathy for the Greek people". Other sources point to the opposite, based on her many charitable works and efforts to improve the lives of the Greek people in and around the capital.
The King's health declined so a ship was sent to the Island of Tinos in order to seek the miraculous icon of the Annunciation who supposedly heal the sick. While Constantine I had already received the last sacraments, he partly recovered his health after kissing the icon. However, his situation remained worrying and he needed surgery before he could resume his duties. Relieved by the recovery of her husband, Sophia offered then, by way of ex-voto, a sapphire to enrich the icon.
During the King's illness period, the Triple Entente continued to put pressure on Greece to go to war alongside them. Dimitrios Gounaris, successor of Venizelos as Prime Minister, proposed the intervention of his country in the conflict in exchange for the protection of the Allies against an eventual attack of Bulgaria. However, the Triple Entente, although eager to form an alliance with them, refused the agreement.
Sophia of Prussia