This Royal Family Member Owns A McDonald's
Ah, McDonald's: certainly a fast food joint fit for royalty! Literally. (Though Burger King might disagree.)
Unbeknownst to many, a key member of the British Royal Family does a whole lot more than representing the British monarchy across the pond. In addition to serving as the current Head of State, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, also holds the unique title of... McDonald's restaurant owner. That's right! The ultra-chic McDonald's is located in the Banbury Gateway Shopping Park, a promenade mall in the heart of Oxfordshire, England. But in order to get there, the Queen would have to travel a long 80 miles (that is, 128.75 kilometers) from her home, Buckingham Palace in London (via Business Insider). That's quite a trek to get a good ol' McD's fix!
How – and why – does the Queen own a McDonald's? The McD's in question is located on Sovereign-owned property, specifically a piece of land that is part of the Crown Estate. Prince Charles, who's the Queen's son and the person next in line to rule the monarchy, will acquire the royal McD's when he is crowned King one day. And just to clarify, the Treasury receives all money made from Crown Estate-owned sites; so the restaurant won't add to the wealth of any royal family members, per The Sun. The Queen was also the previous owner of another McDonald's drive-thru at Slough's Bath Road Retail Park. However, the Crown Estate sold the land in 2016 for a whopping £177 million (or $212,080,515).
What is the Queen's McDonald's like?
As one may imagine, the Queen's McDonald's definitely isn't your typical, run-of-the-mill fast food joint. According to Hello Magazine, it's decked out with luxurious leather sofas, lavish Eames chairs, pearlescent laminate floors, digital menu boards, and (gasp!) table service. So chic! What better way to enjoy an array of McNuggets and a big ol' bucket of fries?
Speaking of menu items, McDonald's restaurants in England offer fare that's a bit different than items in the U.S. For example, if you ever find yourself in the United Kingdom, you can order Spicy Nacho Cheese Wedges, a banana shake, a Chicken Legend sandwich, or even a chocolatey donut for a sweet breakfast or dessert (via The Travel). McDonald's UK also offers a variety of vegan options, including Veggie Dippers (via McDonald's UK). (Hint, hint, America!) Even the portion sizes and European ingredient regulations differ, according to a taste test conducted by Insider.
While Her Majesty is the owner of one of the most upscale McDonald's on the planet, there is no word on whether or not she is a fan of the chain's food. And here's another fun fact: Queen Elizabeth II owns every dolphin in the UK and the swans in the Thames, among other animals (via Travel and Leisure).