The UK’s Continental Shelf
Owned Since: 1964 (Drilling Rights)
Valued At: $64 billion* (Oil)
The valuable natural resource of Queen Elizabeth II is the UKCS. The waters around the UK are called the UK Continental Shelf. The Crown owns the English Channel, Irish Sea, North Atlantic, and North Sea water rights. The UKCS contains immense reserves of oil and gas. The BEIS Oil and Gas Authority is responsible for the awarding and licensing of contracts to oil companies. Only in certain areas are these firms allowed to drill. For generations, the Crown has owned the land. Drilling rights include recent additions to the portfolio.
The UK’s Continental Shelf
A Bat Colony
Owned Since: 2019
Valued At: Priceless
One of Her Majesty’s favorite things is a colony of bats set up at Balmoral Castle in her own main hall. Other facts reported suggesting that Elizabeth may have developed a new hobby motivated by Discovery Channel programming. The animals established a camp in the main house’s main hall, but instead of leaving it to sort it out, Elizabeth was active. The royal employees release the bats from the castle and keep open the windows so that the bats can reenter the property at their leisure.
A Bat Colony