Sealand is one of the world’s smallest micronations. The UK does not recognize it but is effectively autonomous as it wasn’t located in British territorial waters when it was established in the late 1960s.
It’s off the coast of Essex, located in the Noth Sea, approximately 7.5 miles from Great Britain. The site was previously known as HM Fort Roughs, a military installation built during the Second World War. To know more about them, continue reading this Sealand UK review.
Sealand UK Review
As you can see, it’s tiny and isolated, with a helicopter platform taking up much of the space at the top of the building. Full-time military personnel were withdrawn from the structure in 1956.
It was part of a string of other defensive structures called the Maunsell Forts, built to protect south-eastern England against Nazi Germany’s naval threat.
Here is HM Fort Roughs (now Sealand) being towed into place in 1942.
In 1967, former British army Major Roy Bates took over the fort with his wife Joan to set up a pirate radio station, keeping others who had the same idea at bay.
In 1967 Bates declared the “Principality of Sealand,” declaring himself Prince Roy and his wife Princess Joan. The fort has been effectively independent ever since.
Sealand has a red, black, and white-striped flag, while the royal coat of arms says “E Mare Libertas” or “from the sea, freedom.”
In 1987 the United Kingdom extended its territorial waters by 9 miles, and the area now includes Sealand. However, a serious challenge to the micronation’s de-facto independence is yet to be posed by Westminster.
Some of the threats to Sealand’s independence have come from outside the UK. In 1978, mercenaries employed by German businessman Alexander Achenbach invaded the island but were eventually captured. Achenbach wanted to turn the platform into a luxury off-shore hotel.
Sealand issues its own currency, Sealand dollars, which are worth one US dollar. However, the ones they sell on their online shop are slightly more expensive.
Sealand has also run a sideline business selling titles and stamps issued by the country.
You can become a count or countess for £199.99 ($245.45), and get your own Sealand identity card for £25 ($30.68).
The fort’s main access to the rest of the world is by boats — which then have to be lifted up onto the top platform. There’s also a helicopter platform.
Despite the harsh exterior, the inside is perfectly livable, if a little old-fashioned. At the time of the One Show’s report on Sealand, the fort even had a resident cat.
After the death of Paddy and Joan, the current prince is Michael, and he claims that every day hundreds of requests for passports, flags, and coins arrive on his website, but that the most requested item is the title of Lord or Lady.
Today he can be a Sealand nobleman just by ordering it online. It costs € 36.99.
