For those of you may that may have worried that Queen Elizabeth II may be travelling across the pond for a new life in New York City, you may rest as these are nothing but rumours.
The property blog the Real Deal reported that a buyer recorded as ‘Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand’ was considering purchasing a condo at Zeckendorf Development’s 43-storey high United Nations Plaza at a cost of $7.9 million. Page Six reported that sources had informed them that the funds for her new home were coming ‘from the royal purse’.
The condo in question boasts a gym complex, pool, breath-taking views of the city that never sleeps, all over 3,000 square feet.
Variety described the home that includes Macedonian marble and a bidet in one of the bathrooms as ‘a smoked glassy tower in New York’s Turtle Bay hood, directly across the street from the Northern end of the United Nations complex.”
Yet all of this will have to wait for another day.
The Independent contacted Buckingham Palace for their word on the matter and a spokesperson would not confirm or deny any transatlantic moves, noting: “I am afraid we do not comment on any private commercial activity of the Privy Purse”.
Further investigation has confirmed that The Queen is staying put.
The sky-high condo was actually signed for by Gerard van Bohemen, New Zealand government’s new UN ambassador. He is the new permanent representative to the UN for New Zealand- a country still part of the Commonwealth and where Her Majesty remains as sovereign.
The only connection that The Queen has in the purchase is that fact that she is the ceremonial head of the New Zealand government.
This means, for now, Queen Elizabeth will be staying on British soil and not joining her granddaughter, Princess Eugenie, state-side.
Photo Credit: Michael Gwyther-Jones via Flickr
That is the standard form of a government action in a Crown Dominion. I knew what it meant right away. It is amusing that so many royal watchers were confused. Pretty nice digs for the New Zealand ambassador. I wonder how the New Zealand taxpayers feel about it.