Royalty Enters Manhattan: Queen Elizabeth Snags a NYC Pad For $8 Million

Why should the Queen of England rent a hotel room when she can own a sprawling pad instead when visiting the Big Apple?

Queen Elizabeth reportedly snagged a pied-à-terre on the 18th floor of 50 United Nations Plaza for $8 million. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom apartment in the Turtle Bay area of Manhattan is situated along the East River between East 42nd and East 48th street.

The 3,000 square foot pad features an oversized foyer that flows into a combination living/dining room that’s nearly 50 feet in length, and is equipped with two deep bay windows overlooking the U.N. complex. This expansive dining area is perfect for entreating guests and other dignitaries. The kitchen features a large center island and black honed granite countertops and white cabinetry.

The master bedroom has a city view, and features two walk-in closets and a spacious ensuite with lavish white marble, a teak wood vanity and a sectioned-off toilet and bidet.

The 43-story building was designed by award-winning British architect Norman Foster, who just so happened to be knighted by the Queen herself back in 1990. Perhaps it’s this affiliation with Foster that attracted the Queen to this building – either that or the sheer grandeur of the apartment and the building itself. Residents of the building have the utmost of privacy and security thanks to the building’s gated entry and private motor-court.

State-of-the-art building amenities include a landscaped courtyard, 75-foot pool, massage rooms, fitness center, and even climate-controlled wine cellars for purchase.

The area of Turtle Bay in New York is filled with quaint walkups, mid-rises and luxury high-rises. This community has a 2,000-member Turtle Bay Association working to preserve the history and the quality of life in the neighborhood. Since the area isn’t defined by tourist attractions, the streets are roamed almost exclusively by area residents, which helps keep the neighborhood quiet and friendly.

Perhaps the Queen can use this NYC condo unit to retreat to while her 775-room Buckingham Palace undergoes some much-needed renovations. The massive building requires structural upgrades according to English royal officials. But the queen has a number of other places she could escape to aside from her new pad in Turtle Bay, such as the Windsor Castle, Sandringham House, and the Balmoral Castle in Scotland.