No, queen elizabeth did not buy an $8m ny apartment

Photo: 50unp.com

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth hit the real estate headlines recently with the rumour that she had purchased an $8m apartment in New York. Now, the speculation has been debunked by new reports of the real buyer, who is another official altogether.

According to The Brisbane Times, the 18th floor unit, located at 50 United Nations Plaza, was actually purchased by the government of New Zealand, which will be the home to the country's permanent UN representative, Gerard van Bohemen.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home is just across the road from the UN headquarters in the city - a choice that surprised many who believed that the Queen of England had decided to invest in New York's luxury market. While the English monarchy has no connection to the transaction, though, the deal has still brought New Zealand's officials under fire from MPs, who labelled it as an unwise extravagance.