London The Hinduja brothers, the well-known NRI billionaires, are negotiating to buy a prime property in London from none other than Queen Elizabeth.
Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja have made an offer of about 60 million pounds for the Crown Estate's opulent former head office in Carlton House Terrace, near Buckingham Palace, according to the Telegraph newspaper.
The Hinduja brothers have a substantial stake in global finance, telecom, film and oil businesses. They are estimated to be the 13th wealthiest people in Britain.
The two brothers are well known not just for their support over the years to Britain's Conservative and Labour parties, but also because of large charities made through their Hinduja Foundation.
The Crown Estate has a 6 billion pound property portfolio managed for the queen by a board appointed by her.
Roger Bright, the Crown Estate's chief executive, has reportedly discussed the possible sale of Numbers 13-16 Carlton House Terrace with Kash Chandarana, a senior negotiator for the Hindujas.
A spokesman for the Crown Estate said: "We have received offers on the property but no deal has been completed yet. It is an exceptional property and we hope it can return to residential use at some stage.”
"There is a presumption that residential, rather than office use, would be the preferred option for the property," the spokesman was quoted as saying.
The property has had a number of distinguished residents. They include William Gladstone, the reforming Victorian prime minister, and Weetman Dickenson Pearson, the first Viscount Cowdray.
However, the sale can run into rough weather as the Hinduja brothers plan to convert the 19th-century building, which overlooks The Mall and St James's Park and was commissioned by King George IV, into exclusive flats.
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