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Lying six miles off the Suffolk coast, it appears to
be an old oil platform to the casual observer.
But the Principality of Sealand, as residents call it, claims to be the
world’s smallest country, with its own Royal Family, currency, and even
postage stamps.
The tiny state (though no other country officially recognises it as
such) occupies a 5,290sq ft Second World War fort consisting of two
concrete towers connected by an iron platform a few miles off Felixstowe,
in international waters.
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But since 1967, Sealand's residents - all 22 of them - have declared
themselves independent of Britain.
They produce their own drinkable water, and land their own fish and
lobster, but have to import most of their food and other goods from the
British mainland. The micronation even has its own currency, the Sealand
Dollar, and its own football team, the Sealand All Stars.
Residents make money by selling Sealand mementoes via an online shop, as
well as titles: for £199.99 you can buy the title Count or Countess of
Sealand, while you can settle for Lord or Lady for just £29.99.
Alternatively, you can buy one square foot of the territory for £19.99,
a mug or a football shirt.
Sealand began on Christmas Eve 1966 after Roy Bates, a former infantry
major in the first battalion Royal Fusiliers, took over the fort, then
known as HM Roughs.
The fort had been built as one of a series of defence forts off the
Suffolk coast during World War II before being abandoned in the 1950s.
Mr Bates, then 46, was a fisherman turned pirate radio broadcaster, who
had fallen foul of British broadcasting laws and wanted to find a new
base somewhere outside British jurisdiction.
On Christmas Eve 1966, he took over Fort Roughs with his wife, Joan,
daughter, Penelope, 16, and son, Michael, 16, and the following
September he declared himself Prince of Sealand and his wife, Princess
Joan.
Thereafter followed a series of challenges, from the British government,
who sent delegates to recce Sealand, to a group of German and Dutch
'invaders', but the Bates family - who gave themselves the motto E Mare
Libertas (From The Sea, Freedom) - managed to hang on to the windy
platform they had made their own.
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In October 2012, Roy Bates died at the age of 91, and the Sealand crown
passed to his son, Michael, 63, who is still said to live on Sealand
with his family and friends.
The younger Mr Bates, aka His Majesty Prince Michael, has claimed that
his micronation has been recognised by Germany and France. And he said
Scottish people wanting to claim independence from the United Kingdom
could seek inspiration from his father's struggle.
He said: 'It hasn’t been easy for us, but the situation is different
inasmuch as Scotland is heavily dependent on Britain and vice versa.
'I don’t believe it will ever happen but if it does, they would have our
support. The Scots are great and fiercely independent people.'
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He added: 'We import from the UK and Europe most of our provisions,
apart from local produce like fish and lobsters. We make our own water
and are 99 percent green energy producing.
'We have something like 30 rooms of various sizes, and most of our days
are spent withoffice and IT work these days, processing orders from our
online shop, security and maintenance.'
The Bates family is are also planning to run tourist trips to their
platform later this year. |