Markets Magazine
The Real Estate Manager Who’s Making the Queen Richer
The Crown Estate, which generates a tidy income for Queen Elizabeth II, owns chunks of London’s West End and vast swaths of rural Britain.
With assets dating back to the 11th century, the Crown Estate owns, among other things, most of Regent Street in London.
Photographer: Christoffer Rudquist/Bloomberg MarketsThis article is for subscribers only.
Fifteen years ago, London’s Regent Street was known for Liberty, the high-end department store with its mock Tudor facade, and Hamleys, the 255-year-old toymaker. Otherwise, it was a West End backwater filled with airline offices, carpet shops, and stores selling royal kitsch aimed at tourists.
Today, it’s a global shopping mecca. Apple, J.Crew, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, and Brooks Brothers, among others, have opened flagship megastores on Regent Street, turning it into a giant outdoor mall in the heart of London.