A series of events resulted in Juliana Maria becoming the de facto ruler of Denmark six years after being widowed. Her stepson king Christian VII rejected her attempts to make contact with him, as did his spouse, Caroline Matilda of Great Britain. It was noted how the younger of the two queen dowagers were neglected by the royal couple: despite the fact that Juliana Maria's summer residence Fredensborg Palace was but a short distance from summer residence of the king and queen, Hirschholm Slot, she was never visited by them; she was only invited to the royal table when it was absolutely necessary, and at those occasions, she was markedly ignored, which demonstratively placed her in a neglected position at court. Nevertheless, it is noted that the queen and the two queen dowagers spent a lot of time together during the king's journey in 1768–69, and that Juliana Maria was given the "Mathildeordenen" and carried Princess Louise Augusta to her baptism in 1771.