Her wealth and privilege were, to a certain extent, overshadowed by personal tragedies. Her marriage was not consummated for many years, as her husband suffered from phimosis. While in exile in Rome, Maria fell in love with another man, may be with an officer of the papal guard, and became pregnant by him. She retreated to her parents' home at Possenhofen, where a family council decided that she must give birth in secret to prevent scandal. On 24 November 1862, Maria Sophie gave birth to a daughter in St. Ursula's Convent in Augsburg. The child was immediately given to the family of the father. Maria Sophia was forced to promise that she would never see her daughter again. In later life, Maria Sophie suffered from depression, which is believed to have been rooted in this event.