In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II marked a historic milestone, celebrating 70 years of unwavering service to the United Kingdom and the world. The occasion, known as her Platinum Jubilee, was commemorated with pomp and pageantry, and the entire nation joined in the festivities, savoring classic British dishes.
Notably, the Royal Household even released a special bottle of champagne to honor this remarkable event. But amidst the grandeur and tradition, there’s a fast-food twist to the Queen’s domain that few would expect.
Beyond Buckingham Palace’s opulent halls and glorious gardens, one can find an unexpected gem in the Queen’s portfolio – a McDonald’s restaurant. Yes, you read that correctly. Amongst the grand castles, racecourses, and estates that the Crown owns, there exists a McDonald’s, and not just any McDonald’s, but one fit for royalty.
A Royal Burger Experience
Today, the United Kingdom boasts more than 1,270 McDonald’s locations. And you might be surprised to learn that one of these was technically owned by Queen Elizabeth II herself – the McDonald’s in the Banbury Gateway Shopping Park in Oxfordshire.
Queen Elizabeth II was known for enjoying her food as she liked it. She famously detested garlic so much that it was banned from Buckingham Palace’s kitchen. But when she wasn’t sipping on her daily gin Dubonnet cocktail or relishing a slice of her favorite chocolate biscuit cake, the Queen could have been savoring a 10-piece nugget meal.
As part of the Crown Estate, Banbury Gateway Shopping Park had its McDonald’s location technically owned by the Queen, offering a unique connection between Her Majesty and fast food.
No Ordinary Fast Food Stop
The Banbury Gateway Shopping Park McDonald’s, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, exudes an air of sophistication unusual for a fast-food establishment. It boasts Eames chairs and plush leather sofas, providing visitors with a comfortable dining experience while indulging in McFlurries and McNuggets.
Unlike the typical McDonald’s, this location offers table service like a sit-down restaurant. Additionally, guests can enjoy Samsung tablets, free Wi-Fi, and convenient charging pads, eliminating the hassle of searching for charging cables.
The restaurant’s website playfully asks, “Fancy a bite to eat on the go?” If you’re curious to sample “the Queen’s McDonald’s” for yourself, rest assured that it’s open every day from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Not Her Only McDonald’s
If the idea of Queen Elizabeth owning a McDonald’s still surprises you, there’s more to the story. In a remarkable turn of events, Her Majesty once technically held two McDonald’s locations.
Situated in Slough, the Bath Road Retail Park was purchased by the Crown Estate for £92 million in 2008. This retail park included a McDonald’s complete with a drive-thru. Consequently, Queen Elizabeth was the proud owner of two McDonald’s locations for one year.
However, as of 2016, the Crown Estate sold the land upon which the Slough McDonald’s stood for a staggering 177 million euros, leaving the Banbury Gateway Shopping Park McDonald’s as the sole remaining royal McDonald’s establishment.
Did Queen Elizabeth Savor Big Macs?
As the technical owner of a renowned fast-food chain celebrated for its crispy fries and burgers, one might wonder if Queen Elizabeth II ever indulged in a Big Mac or its equivalents. However, this curiosity is met with a twist, for Queen Elizabeth had a refined palate.
In a revealing 2020 interview with Insider, former palace chef Darren McGrady unveiled the Queen’s culinary preferences. Notably, garlic was off-limits due to its breath-altering effects, shellfish was avoided to prevent food poisoning, and pizza seldom graced her royal menu, leaning instead towards French cuisine. While the occasional burger did make its way to her table, it wasn’t your typical drive-thru order.
The Queen’s burgers were sans bun crafted from venison sourced from Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a royal summer retreat. She dined on these burgers with a knife and fork, like her approach to eating bananas, pairing them with cranberry sauce.
