Sealand News

 

A SHORT HISTORY OF SEALAND

Roughs Tower

During the second World War, the United Kingdom established a number of military bases along the east coast of England to fight off Nazi air raids.

One of these bases was the famous fort Roughs Tower situated circa seven miles off the coast of Suffolk, England, clearly outsideof the then applicable three mile range of territorial waters!

After the end of World War 2, all troops were withdrawn from these bases, leaving the forts abandoned. All of the anti-aircraft platforms were subsequently pulled down – except one: Roughs Tower.

HM Fort Roughs, situated at the high seas, had been deserted and abandoned. From a legal point of view, it constituted extra-national territory.

 

Roughs Tower

 

The Birth of a Nation

2 September 1967: Former English major and radio broadcaster Paddy Roy Bates occupied the island, named it Sealand and settled there with his wife and children.

Bates proclaimed the island his own state “The Principality of Sealand” and bestowed upon himself the title of “HRH Prince of Sealand” and the title of “Princess Joan of Sealand” to his wife Joan.

 

Prince Roy and Princess Joan 1967

The Royal Family and other persons that have declared loyalty to the sovereign Principality have occupied the artificial island ever since.

Prince Roy poured millions of pounds into the micro-nation, transforming the inside of the former sea barge fort into a luxurious palace.

The portholes have been double-glazed to keep out the cold sea breeze and a heliport has been installed on the roof. Generators were brought in and the conventional coal stoves were replaced with electric ones. Even telephones were installed to ease communications with people outside of Sealand.

The Royal Family even hired a team of highly trained security guards to ensure that the Principality would be protected at all times.

In the early years Prince Roy and Princess Joan’s children, Crown Prince Michael and Princess Penelope, lived on the artificial island too.

Video: Sealand in the Sixties

The Fight for Sovereignty

1968: As soon as the British navy became aware of the existence of the Principality of Sealand, they planned to remove Prince Roy and his Royal Family from the former anti-aircraft platform.

Units of the navy entered the territorial waters claimed by the Principality. Prince Roy threatened the navy and tried to scare them off by firing warning shots.

Since Prince Roy was still an English citizen, he was accused of extensive crimes in the U. K. and was summoned to an English court.

The result of this legendary lawsuit was a sensational success for Sealand’s claim to sovereignty. In November 1968 the court declared that it was not competent in this case because Sealand was not part of the United Kingdom. This declaration is the first de facto recognition of the Principality of Sealand.

Building a New Nation

25 September 1975: Roy of Sealand proclaimed the Constitution of the Principality.

Over the next few ywars other national treasures were developed, such as the red, white and black flag of the of Sealand, its awe-inspiring national anthem, stamps, the Sealand Dollar and even Passports.

 

The Invasion of Sealand

12 August 1978: A number of Dutch men in the employ of a shady German businessman came to the Principality to discuss business dealings with Sealand.

While the Prince and Princess were away on business, they abducted their son Michael and brought him to the Netherlands, and took Sealand by force. Soon after, Roy recaptured his island in a daring helicopter assault and held the attackers as prisoners of war.

The Governments of the Netherlands and Germany petitioned for the release of the prisoners. In an act of de facto recognition of the Principality’s sovereignty, West Germany sent a diplomat to Sealand to negotiate for their release.

Prince Roy eventually released all prisoners.

“While we were on a business trip in Austria, a group of armed men landed a helicopter on Sealand and took Michael hostage,” Princess Joan of Sealand remembers. “Once back in England my husband and four friends jumped in a helicopter and flying low above the sea, they reached the island. Sliding from the helicopter on ropes they took the kidnappers by surprise and took control without even firing a single shot.”

Princess Joan recalls the event as if it had happened yesterday. “Our life has always been rich in adventure. You cannot imagine all that took place on Sealand.”

 

Prince Roy and Princess Joan 1980

 

Extension of Territorial Waters

1 October 1987: Britain extended its territorial waters from three to twelve nautical miles. The previous day, Prince Roy of Sealand declared the extension of his country’s territorial waters to be a like twelve miles, so that right of passage from Sealand to the open sea could not be blocked by British claimed waters.
The U. K. and Sealand haven’t signed a treaty to divide up the overlapping areas, but a general policy of dividing the area between the two countries can be assumed. Britain has no more right to Sealand’s territory than the Principality has to the United Kingdom’s territory that falls within its claimed twelve mile arc.

In 1990 there was another fire arms incident when the Royal maritime vessel “Golden Eye” strayed too near to the Principality and warning shots had to be fired.
”The rifle shots were a warning, used like a flare from a lighthouse,” said Prince Roy. “The vessel had not responded to repeated radio calls and there was serious concern.”

The ship’s crew made complaints to British authorities but they have never pursued the matter. This is another clear indication that Britain’s Home Office considers the Principality of Sealand to be outside their territorial waters.

Fake Sealand Passports

In 1997, forged passports of the Principality of Sealand started turning up all around the world.

Fake Sealand passports were used by criminals to open bank accounts or to travel under false names. Passports seized in a Slovenian caper had entry and exit stamps from at least 10 countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Iraq, Iran and Libya.
Almost five thousand forged Sealand passports were sold at around £ 1,000 each to Hong Kong citizens before the handover to China.
Torsten Reineck, on whose houseboat Andrew Cunanan committed suicide after the murder of famous fashion designer Gianni Versace, carried a Sealand passport. Reineck drove around Beverly Hills in a car with Sealand “diplomatic plates”.

Prince Roy stated that these passports were not issued by the Principality of Sealand. “Each and every country in the world has problems like this. The world is awash with forged passports. I’m just angry they’re faking mine and using them for criminal purposes.”

The Royal Family revoked all Sealand Passports.

Sealand goes High-Tech

1999: Whilst the Principality had been the pride and joy of Prince Roy and his Royal Family , his poor health caused him to reconsider the arrangements which had been in place for well over thirty years and to look to the future of the micro-nation.

Consequently, his son Prince Michael was appointed Prince Regent as Sovereign by Royal Decree.

Since that time, Prince Michael has struck a deal with HavenCo, an independent data haven that offers unsurpassed security to companies who wish to take advantage of its web services.

Sealand makes the news

Disaster Strikes

23 June 2006: At lunchtime on Friday the 23rd of June a fire broke out in the main power generation facility of the artificial island.

British emergency facilities attended the Principality and the fire was extinguished 4 hours after it began and the security guard responsible for the power generation facility was airlifted to a nearby UK hospital and later released after treatment for smoke inhalation.

Even though the precise nature of the cause of the fire was never found, sabotage or terrorist activities have been ruled out.

Residents returned to the Principality on Sunday, 25 June, accompanied by HRH Prince Regent Michael, Prince Royal James, and Prince Liam who surveyed the damage and outlined plans for the rebuilding of the Principality.

Video: Life in Sealand after the Fire

The damage caused by the fire is estimated at US $1 Million [£ 500,000].

In November 2006, the restoration of the artificial island was completed by Church & East Ltd., with no signs of the fire remaining. As a result of the fire, Sealand has had wind turbines installed to lessen environmental effects.

Video: Sealand Restored

Sealand for Sale

In early January 2007 Sealand was offered for sale. The Swedish file-sharing website “The Pirate Bay” failed to buy Sealand for £65m.

As of the 11th of February 2007 Sealand is taking bookings for tourist visits.

Video: Interview with Prince Regent Prince Michael

Support Sealand

You can help maintain Sealand. The most noble and most rewarding way to do so is to acquire a genuine Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness title from the Principality of Sealand.

This title is given in recognition of your financial support towards the welfare and further developement of Sealand and the desire to become part of this unique Sovereign State.