Queen Elizabeth II owned interests in MS cotton plantation
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, September 14, 2022
In the interest of not “burying the lead,” let me note that although she never set foot in the State of Mississippi or cast her eyes on the alluvial fan of the mythical and mystic Mississippi Delta region, the late Queen Elizabeth II was by virtue of her investment portfolio the owner of a “mammoth” cotton plantation in Bolivar County, Mississippi.
It was known as Queen’s Farm in Scott, Mississippi. Black sharecroppers primarily worked it. But first, some context.
Like most Mississippians, the only ruler on the throne of the British monarchy during my lifetime was up until last week Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. I am now in my early 60s.
At her death last week at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth II was a beloved and iconic figure not just among her subjects in the British empire but globally. She was the embodiment of the British “stiff upper lip” and a formidable woman who led her nation from the ruin of two world wars into a new century.
The Queen was 13 when World War II broke out. She and her family stayed at Buckingham Palace when the bombing began in London in solidarity with their subjects. When she turned 18, Elizabeth joined the women’s section of the British Army — training and serving as an auto mechanic. When the war ended, she joined the celebration with her subjects — dancing in the streets of Trafalgar Square in her uniform.
She was a faithful friend and ally to the United States in peace and war. There was a dignity about her — even in the modern era when her own country criticized the institution of the monarchy and when the bad and often very human behavior of members of the royal family deepened that criticism — that was unwavering.
American presidents sought audiences with her, as did world leaders and figures in pop culture and sports. She was the most photographed woman in history — with her image adorning currency, postage stamps and advertising gimmicks around the world.
At her passing, the Queen held a personal fortune estimated at some $520 million, mostly real estate based. The assets of the British monarchy as an institution (mostly held in the Crown Estate) are estimated at $88 billion.
As one might imagine, the monarchy held properties around the globe. A lesser-known holding was in Bolivar County, Mississippi. As of 1968, the Queen through investment in the British textile company Courtaulds owned an interest in a 38,000-acre cotton plantation in Mississippi.
Historian and cotton plantation system scholar Lawrence J. Nelson published a 1984 article in The Journal of Southern History examining The Queen’s Farm and the Delta & Pine Land Company in which Queen Elizabeth II was an investor:
“This mammoth operation . . . was by far the largest cotton plantation in the American South, rambling over nearly 60 square miles (about 38,000 acres) of the fertile Mississippi Delta. A significant factor in the financial and social success of this essentially British-owned plantation was the leadership of its president, Oscar Goodbar Johnston, a native Mississippian who had had careers in banking, planting, politics, and at the bar.
“Of keen intellect and strong personality and will, Johnston was 47 years old when he assumed the presidency of a failing plantation in 1927 and steered it through the economic morass of the Great Depression. After ten years of his management, Delta & Pine Land’s accounts showed 6 black years, 3 red — a remarkable achievement owing in part to astute leadership and in part to the cotton (subsidy) programs of the New Deal,” Nelson wrote.
After the Queen’s investment, it was revealed that the British company had received approximately $1.5 million in U.S. crop subsidies. In 1971, The New York Times reported congressional action to enact ceilings on price supports for individual farms. The measure passed the U.S. House over the opposition of then-House Speaker Carl Albert and then-Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford. Ford would later dance with the Queen at the White House as president.
The Queen’s interests in Courtaulds later dissolved into the company and Delta & Pine Land was sold first to Monsanto and then ultimately to Bayer, a German multinational company.
Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.
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FAQs
2.1 In 1968 Elizabeth II bought, through Courtaulds in which she had a majority shareholding, a 38,000 acre cotton plantation at Scott, Mississippi in the United States. It became known as The Queen's Farm. 2.2 The value of The Queen's Farm increased significantly before it was sold.
Has Queen Elizabeth ever been to Mississippi? ›
STARKVILLE — In the interest of not “burying the lead,” let me note that although she never set foot in the state of Mississippi or cast her eyes on the alluvial fan of the mythical and mystic Mississippi Delta region, the late Queen Elizabeth II was by virtue of her investment portfolio the owner of a “mammoth” cotton ...
Did Queen Elizabeth own any property in the United States? ›
The Queen owns land privately in the United States and Canada, though not in her capacity as Sovereign of the United Kingdom. She owns a horse farm in Kentucky, and is believed to own prime Park Avenue estate in New York City.
Is Queen Victoria related to Queen Elizabeth? ›
Directly descended from Edward VII, Queen Elizabeth is Victoria's great-great granddaughter. In 2015, she surpassed Victoria as the longest reigning British monarch in history, and this year, becomes the country's first ever to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.
What properties does Queen Elizabeth personally own? ›
Other than the Queen's Privy Purse, Elizabeth II also owned the Balmoral and Sandringham Estates, which were passed down to her from her father. What the queen didn't own, however, are the official royal residences, most of the art in the Royal Collection, and the Crown Jewels, the Royal Family website points out.
Which properties are privately owned by the Queen? ›
Places like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are owned by the monarch of the moment because of their position as king or queen, while other properties, like Balmoral and Sandringham House, are personally owned and not publicly funded.
How many states did Queen Elizabeth have? ›
The Queen was Head of the Commonwealth and the Head of State for 16 member states. Over 20 countries were part of the British Empire when the Queen became monarch. Many gained independence during her reign.
How many states does Queen Elizabeth have? ›
The number of states headed by Elizabeth II varied during her 70 years as queen, altogether seeing her as sovereign of a total of 32 independent countries during this period.
Who was the first Queen in the United States? ›
The United States has never been a monarchy and has never had a king or queen. The first president however was the continental general George Washington.
Is Queen Elizabeth the largest landowner in the world? ›
The largest landowner in the world currently is King Charles III of England. How much land does the Royal Family own? He and the British Royal Family own more than 6,600,000,000 acres of land around the world. They technically own many territories around the globe, amounting to 1/6 of the surface of the planet.
With the news that Queen Elizabeth passed away today at her beloved Scottish estate, Balmoral, we're republishing this story about her six homes. The Queen has home for just about every occasion (Balmoral for the summer, Sandringham for Christmas...).
Does the Crown own land in the USA? ›
Britain surrenders their previously owned land, However, the Crown currently owns a great deal of real estate in the US, particularly New York, all purchased in more recent times. This property, of course, is all subject to US jurisdiction.
Will Kate Middleton be queen when William is King? ›
Kate will instead be a queen consort, the wife of a reigning king (William, of course). In the role, she will support her husband in his duties, attend engagements, and help with charitable organizations that resonate with her.
Were Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth related? ›
Having had the same great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were third cousins.
How is Queen Elizabeth 11 related to Queen Elizabeth I? ›
This makes the two Elizabeths first cousins, many generations removed, as they are both descendants of King Henry VII.
Where did Queen Elizabeth have homes? ›
After she became queen in 1952, Elizabeth used the palace as her permanent residence until 2020, when she moved to Windsor Castle full-time. Princess Elizabeth's sitting room on the first floor of Clarence House in London in 1949.
Does the Royal Family own land in the USA? ›
In summary, while the British royal family owns significant land in the United Kingdom, they do not own any land in the United States.
Does Queen Elizabeth own land? ›
The Crown Estate is a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to the British monarch as a corporation sole, making it "the sovereign's public estate", which is neither government property nor part of the monarch's private estate.
