Own Your Own Country

A former World War 2 sea fort in the North Sea is for sale, says The Times.

Sealand was first settled by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Roy and Princess Joan of Sealand in 1967.

Sealand began life in 1941 as Roughs Tower. It is a 550 square metre steel platform atop two concrete towers similar in appearance to an oilrig.

The fort sits 7 miles off the coast of Harwich in eastern England and the sale follows a fire in late June of 2006. Restoration of the fort was completed in November 2006, with no signs of the fire remaining.

Sealand is accessible only by helicopter and boat but, according to its owners, who anticipate offers in the region of tens of millions of pounds, boasts uninterrupted sea views and guarantees complete privacy.

Although not recognised as a country by any other country, Sealand is outside the UK’s three-mile limit and, as such, a judge ruled in 1968 that it is beyond the jurisdiction of the British Government.

“We have owned the island for 40 years now and my father is 85,” Prince Michael of Sealand commented.
“Astronomical figures have been mentioned but we will just see what comes forward.”

Although its status as an independent state is disputed, Sealand - like the UK - has a history of warfare with our German cousins.

In 1978 the German Prime Minister of Sealand, a Herr Achenbach, conspired with visiting Dutch businessmen to kidnap Roy’s son, Prince Michael and attempted to capture Sealand by force. Michael was freed in a counter-attack and Prince Roy held the invaders as prisoners of war. Germany asked Britain to intervene but was told that the fortress was beyond British jurisdiction. Prince Roy eventually released the prisoners.

In 1974, Prince Roy introduced a constitution. A flag, national anthem, currency - the gold and silver Sealand dollar which is the equivalent to the US dollar - and passports have followed.