8 fun facts about the Queen's property empire

This long weekend celebrates the Queen’s birthday, and while our sovereign may be just a face on a coin to you, she’s also quite a shrewd property investor.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was actually born on April 21, 1926, but as that’s not summer time in the UK she gets two celebrations.

The Queen has sat on her throne for over six decades, but if her property interests are anything to go by she certainly hasn’t sat on her laurels.

1. The Queen owns a McDonald’s

The Crown Estate is the landlord of the McDonald’s at the Banbury Gateway Shopping Park in Oxfordshire, which means that technically the fast-food restaurant sits on royal land.

Her Maj used to have royal dibs on another Maccas in Slough through the Crown Estate, but it was sold off in 2016.

The Crown Estate is the public estate of the monarch which is a statutory corporation overseeing the land and other holdings of the sovereign.

2. Her birthplace is now a Chinese restaurant

Princess Elizabeth in 1927. Picture: Getty Images

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Don’t tell Tony Abbott, we’re not sure how he’d take the news, but the royal birthplace has been knocked down and is now a Chinese restaurant.

The Queen was born by caesarean section in the home of her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, at 17 Bruton Street in London’s Mayfair in 1926.

At the time of her birth, baby Elizabeth was third in line to the throne. The family’s London residence and the property next door were both torn down in 1937.

Popular Chinese restaurant Hakkasan opened its doors on the same site in 2010.

3. Over 1.5m have been to her garden parties

The queen sure does love a garden party. Picture: Getty Images

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Next time you moan about hosting family Christmas at your place again spare a thought for the monarch, who has hosted over 1.5 million people at her annual summer garden parties.

That’s a lot of hands to shake not mention endless discussions about the weather and cucumber sandwiches.

Over the course of an average year, Queen Elizabeth II hosts over 50,000 people at royal functions.

4. Her commercial property empire is huge

The Crown Estate, which owns Regent Street, much of St James’, farmland, Windsor Great Park and the seabeds surrounding the UK, among other key commercial assets, is worth a staggering £11.5 billion.

In 2014 alone sales and profits from its many diverse businesses came in at £285 million. That’s a lot of brightly coloured hats.

5. Her Maj has owned more than 30 corgis

The Queen and one of her beloved corgis. Picture: Getty Images

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The Queen is a dog person and has owned more than 30 corgis who have all lived at her royal palaces.

Her first corgi was an 18th birthday present which the Queen received in 1944.  The Queen’s first corgi was named Susan.

Rumour has it the Queen once demoted a footman when she discovered that he had snuck whisky and gin into the corgis’ water.

She also breeds and trains Labradors and Cocker Spaniels at Sandringham House. She names all puppies herself and in 2012 it was reported that one was named Gryffindor.

6. We gave her a wattle diamond brooch

The Queen has an extensive collection of priceless jewels, crowns and tiaras that form part of her personal assets. One item of note is a brooch she received from the people of this fine country to mark her coronation tour of Australia in 1954.

It mimics a spray of wattle blossoms and mimosa leaves in white and coloured diamonds.

She has worn it many times over the years at various functions.

7. She invited Les Mis to perform at her place

The Queen invited the cast of Les Mis to perform at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images

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The Queen is fluent in French and does not require a translator to speak the language.  She also seems to have more than a passing interest in French culture.

In 2004 the cast of the popular musical Les Miserables became the first West End production invited by the Queen to perform at a royal residence.

A performance of Les Mis was given in honour of then French president Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle.

8. Her largest estate is 20,000 hectares

Balmoral Estate, where the Queen and her family traditionally celebrate Christmas, is privately owned. This means her Maj – and not the public via the Crown Estate – retains any revenue from the vast property.

There are 150 buildings on site, including the stately castle, and extensive ground for pursuits such as riding and hunting. The Queen, who doesn’t require a driver’s licence but is a qualified mechanic (she trained and served as a mechanic and truck driver during World War II), enjoys driving around the estate in her Land Rover.

The 20,000-hectare property includes vast tracts of working farmland with highland cattle and herds of deer.

The property is open to the public in summer each year and visitors’ fees account for about half of the annual £3 million running costs of the estate.

Bonus fact: her Maj refused the Iron Throne

The Queen looks at the iron throne. Picture: Getty Images

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Last year when she visited the set of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland, the Queen got a good look at the infamous Iron Throne.

The makers of the popular TV show say her Maj was offered the chance to sit on it, but she politely declined.

It turns out, she’s not allowed to sit on foreign thrones, even fictional ones.