CORRECTION (7/7/15): Queen Elizabeth is not buying this pied-a-terre, according to iMediaEthics. The apartment is reportedly being bought by the government of New Zealand, which is taking heat for spending so much for a diplomat.
ORIGINAL: What kind of pied-a-terre would an 89-year-old British monarch require to make New York City feel like an extension of the royal palace? According to The Real Deal, that would be a $8 million, 3-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom apartment on the 18th floor at 50 United Nations Plaza.
Is it Buckingham Palace East? Well, no. The Norman Foster-designed building in Turtle Bay is far more sleek and modern and there’s nary a Beefeater standing sentry in this luxurious, secure and private building on the site of the U.N.
But, with Buckingham Palace in need of serious renovation, the Queen is apparently already plotting her getaways beyond her current real estate holdings at Windsor Castle (near London), Balmoral Castle (Scotland) and Sandringham House in Norfolk.
What drew Queen Elizabeth to this unit? It might have something to do with the 50-foot long dining room and grand foyer, suitable for large-scale entertaining. There’s also a private motor court and garden entry to the building. Last, but not least, the Queen has tapped the shoulder of architect Norman Foster before — when she knighted him back in 1990.
And if the Queen winds up making only rare use of the place, perhaps she’ll allow her grandchildren and great-grand kids to use the pad the next time they’re in town to hang out with Jay-Z and Beyonce at a Brooklyn Nets game.
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