A celebratory dinner is being held to mark 50 years since the founding of Sealand, a country off the Suffolk coastline – with hints of a Hollywood movie on the nation in the offing.
Archive photo dated 30 November, 1966, of owner of the Radio Essex pirate station Roy Bates with his wife Joan in Rochford, Essex, where Mr Bates appeared at the magistrates' court to answer a GPO summons for transmitting illegally. Picture: PA WIRE
Half a century ago, pirate radio broadcaster Roy Bates clambered aboard an abandoned fort seven miles off the Suffolk coast and declared it a sovereign state.
The tiny fiefdom of Sealand has since fought incursions by other illicit broadcasters, fired warning shots at the Royal Navy, and suppressed an attempted coup by a group of German businessmen.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the symbol of “enduring freedom”, supporters from around the world will meet for dinner in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, today.
The guest list of admirers includes Hollywood film producers, international lawyers and internet tycoons from places like Argentina, the US and China, according to “Prince” Michael Bates, 65, the current ruler of Sealand.
Sealand stamps. Picture: MICHAEL BATES/PA WIRE
The Second World War-era steel and concrete platform, which has more than 100,000 Facebook likes, has its own flag, currency, stamps, passports and even a football team.
Mr Bates said the micro-nation represents a universal “desire for freedom away from authority”.
The self-styled royal, who has three grown children and a partner called Meishi, claimed it receives scores of citizenship applications weekly from people “looking for something a bit different”.
Mr Bates, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, said: “We have two people out there permanently – the most we’ve had is around 50 at one point.
Sealand currency. Picture: MICHAEL BATES/PA WIRE
“It’s a very, very interesting and different kind of life. Believe me, I’ve had a lot of adventure out of it.”
A Hollywood film about the history of Sealand may not be too far away, Mr Bates hinted.
To survive financially, the rusting outpost sells quasi-aristocratic titles with the chance to become a duke or duchess for £500.
The nation’s history began on September 2, 1967, when former Army serviceman Roy Bates clambered aboard the disused Roughs Tower, declared himself ruler and, on her birthday, made his wife Joan princess.
The North Sea outpost was outside British waters’ then three-mile jurisdiction, placing it beyond the grasp of Whitehall. British forces then pulled down other forts to stop a repeat of the grab.
In 1968, a 14-year-old Michael Bates sent “warning shots” across the bow of a vessel he felt was sailing too close to the platform.
When he and his father were hauled before the courts over the “swashbuckling incident”, a judge concluded the law had no jurisdiction over the territory.
Sealand claims this episode as its first instance of de facto recognition.
The second came after a German diplomat was sent to negotiate the release of a hostage following a botched coup by German businessmen in 1978.
Guests at the 50th anniversary dinner will toast the memory of founder Roy Bates, who died in 2012, and his wife Joan, who died last year.
A commemorative silver crown coin is being produced for the occasion.
Michael Bates, who wrote a history of Sealand called Holding The Fort, added: “We’re perhaps the most undemanding state in the world. We don’t force anybody to worship any god or religion or anything.
“Maybe that’s why we’ve lasted so long. Hopefully I’ll be around for the next 50!”
World's smallest self-proclaimed nation - an old WWII fort the size of two tennis courts - gets 'thousands' of citizenship requests following votes for Brexit and Donald Trump
- EXCLUSIVE: Sealand has a flag, currency, stamps and a national anthem
- Ruler plans to reclaim land from North Sea to expand the small platform
- Prince Michael thinks people want to register their discontent with votes
- The 50th anniversary of Sealand's foundation is approaching in 2017
Prince Michael of Sealand, who rules the abandoned WWII fort six miles off the East Anglia coast
The world’s smallest self-proclaimed nation has received 'thousands' of citizenship applications following the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s election.
Prince Michael of Sealand, who rules the abandoned WWII fort six miles off the East Anglia coast, is planning to reclaim land from the sea to accommodate a bigger population.
Currently, only two people live on the platform, which was declared a sovereign state in 1967 by Prince Michael’s father, Army officer Major Roy Bates.
Sealand has its own currency, first minted in 1974, as well as a national anthem, flag, constitution and football team – once captained by Royle Family actor Ralf Little.
Prince Michael believes the demand for citizenship is mainly from people wanting to ‘register their discontent’ with political developments in Britain and America.
He told MailOnline: ‘After the vote for Brexit we had several hundred enquiries daily.
‘Then following the American vote it was in excess of 200 daily and we are still getting enquiries as the situation sinks in.’
Sealand has its own currency, first minted in 1974, as well as a national anthem, flag, constitution and football team – once captained by Royle Family actor Ralf Little
Joan Bates was crowned Princess of Sealand by her husband Roy - Prince Michael's father - after he occupied the platform in 1967 and declared it to be an independent country
Prince Michael believes the demand for citizenship is mainly from people wanting to ‘register their discontent’ with political developments. Pictured: Sealand's place on a map
Several hundred Sealand passports have been handed out since it was created, and at its peak the rusty platform the size of two tennis courts housed 50 people.
Although none have been issued since the 9/11 attacks for security reasons, Prince Michael hopes to do so again soon.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Sealand’s foundation dates back to Christmas Eve 1966, when Michael’s father took over HM Fort Roughs with the intention of using it as a base for a pirate radio station.
In 1967, new laws were brought in to crush unlicensed networks, so Roy proclaimed the fort a sovereign country, crowning his wife, former beauty queen Joan, princess.
Princess Joan passed away in March this year, leaving Michael – who became Prince Regent after his father died in October 2012 – the sole ruler. Pictured: Joan and Roy Bates
Roy Bates and Joan pictured on Sealand, which used to be called HM Fort Roughs
Since then the principality has fought off an attack by rival radio producers, an incursion by a Royal Navy ship and even an attempted coup by a group of German businessmen.
Princess Joan passed away in March this year, leaving Michael – who became Prince Regent after his father died in October 2012 – the sole ruler.
He now lives at Leigh-on-Sea on the Essex coast, and helps fund Sealand by selling noble titles, including those of Lord, Lady and Baroness.
Michael does not think Brexit will change Sealand in the short term.
However, he hopes for a good trade deal for the UK to help his business shipping cockles to Spain.
In the future, he believes a population of ‘hundreds’ could live on Sealand, perhaps using floating platforms.
Although Michael’s children - Liam, 28, James, 30, Charlotte 25 – take a keen interest in Sealand, he would not rule out selling it to allow for future expansion to happen.
Passports, such as this one pictured, have not been issued since the 9/11 attacks for security reasons, but Prince Michael hopes to do so again soon
A pair of Sealand coins. On the left is the head of Princess Joan, and on the right the Sealand coat of arms
He added: ‘We want other people living there, hundreds.
‘I cannot think of a better place for some a very rich person to own.
'It is pretty much the only place in Europe where they could enjoy semi-autonomy.
‘And then it is just a helicopter ride away from London where you can enjoy the weekend.’
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, RIFLES... AND THE LAW: HOW SEALAND HAS FOUGHT OFF ITS ENEMIES
Over the years, Sealand has faced repeated threats to its sovereignty, some of which have needed to be seen off with force
Over the years, Sealand has faced repeated threats to its sovereignty, some of which have needed to be seen off with force -
Not long after its foundation, rival pirate radio bosses from Radio Caroline tried to invade, forcing the Bateses to fight them off with Molotov cocktails.
There was also trouble from the British Government, which was at first hostile to Sealand’s claim to be a sovereign state.
Things came to a head in 1968 when a 15-year-old Michael fired a warning shot over the bows of a Royal Navy minesweeper that was trying to land on the platform.
This led to him and Roy appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on weapons charges.
However, the judge threw the case out as the shot was fired in international waters - a ruling used as a basis for Sealand’s independence every since.
Further trouble came in 1978, when a German entrepreneur, Alexander Achenbach, launched a coup following a row over money.
'I might die young or I might die old, but I will never die of boredom.'
Roy Bates
Roy and Michael rappelled from a helicopter dressed in combat fatigues and armed with a rifle in order to gain control.
But Michael was taken hostage and flown to the Netherlands, before being released after four days.
Achenbach’s lawyer, Genot Pütz, was in turn seized, and as a Sealand citizen charged with treason by Prince Roy, who sentenced him to life on the platform.
Not long after its foundation, rival pirate radio bosses from Radio Caroline tried to invade, forcing the Bateses to fight them off with Molotov cocktails. Pictured: Roy and Joan
The situation was relieved seven weeks later when Germany sent a diplomat from London to secure Pütz’s release.
Roy pardoned the lawyer and released him - using the fact that Sealand had received another country's diplomat as further evidence of its statehood.
Roy died in October 2012 at the age of 91, three and a half years before his wife.
He once said: 'I might die young or I might die old, but I will never die of boredom.'
Find out more: Principality of Sealand: Holding the Fort, by Michael Bates
