Exactly how many residences including Palaces does Queen Elizabeth actually own?

Jac

Do you mean HM Queen Elizabeth as monarch, or Elizabeth Windsor as individual? There's quite a difference. Anything she 'owns' as monarch is not hers to dispose of in any way, and could be argued not to strictly be her property, since they must pass to whoever is the next monarch, not necessarily to her direct heir (although of course it usually is the same thing). Anything she owns individually is hers to sell as she pleases. Finding a definitive answer as to the status of various buildings may take quite some time. Sep 26 02, 8:05 PM

Val

It was a question in a local quiz, of which I have now received the answers. According to the question setter The Queen owns ten, being Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St James' Palace, Westminster Palace, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Holyrood House, Hampton Court Palace, Balmoral and Sandringham. I would dispute this. I think she actually owns just Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. And did she inherit Castle of Mey from the Queen Mother? Sep 26 02, 8:31 PM

Siskin

The residences associated with today's Royal Family are divided into the Occupied Royal Residences, which are held in trust for future generations, and the Private Estates which have been handed down to the Queen by earlier generations of the Royal Family. Balmoral Castle was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. Sandringham House was bought in 1862 for the then Prince of Wales - later Edward VII. I believe the Castle of Mey was left to Prince Charles by the Queen Mother. http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page8.asp Sep 26 02, 9:15 PM