UK tabloid the Sun is reporting that Queen Elizabeth II has commissioned four of the world’s major private jet manufacturers to submit interior designs for an official royal aircraft. The Queen has been allotted a budget of £7 million (roughly $12.5 million).

With security concerns making commercial aviation out of the question, the royal family relies on private jets for transportation. Last year UK taxpayers shelled out just under $10 million for the royals’ charter flights. While some anti-monarchist types probably won’t be too pleased at the prospect of footing the bill for this new royal jet they should take heart that the Queen appears to be coming in under budget; in June of this year, the UK Department for Transport approved the use of as much as £10 million of public funds for the purchase of a royal jet.

The Queen reportedly wants a jet with room for 13 people, but one wonders whether she’ll really be able to get all that much plane for $12.5 million. She can forget about the high-end. A new Gulfstream G450, with intercontinental range and seating for 19, goes for around $49 million. The comparable Global Express runs around $45 million, and the Falcon 7X is about $50 million. At $21 million, even the appropriately named Citation Sovereign would seem to be outside of the Queen’s budget. Is her majesty planning on buying used or could she be considering a fraction perhaps?

What plane do you think would be the best fit for her highness’s budget? Weigh in with your comment.