In 1967 Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British pirate radio broadcaster, occupied an abandoned cement platform in international waters, six miles off the eastern shores of Britain.

A British court ruled in 1968 that the platform (which Bates started calling “Sealand”) was outside British jurisdiction, being beyond the then three-mile limit of territorial waters. In 1975, Bates created a constitution for Sealand, a flag, a national anthem, a currency, and passports.

Sealand later started a business of selling diplomatic passports, along with titles of nobility.

Sealand is not recognized as a sovereign state by any United Nations member.

However Sealand is managed by the Bates family as if it were a monarchy, and as if they were its hereditary royal rulers: “Prince Roy”, his wife “Princess Joan” antd heir son “His Royal Highness Prince Michael”.

The national motto is “E Mare Libertas” (From the Sea, Freedom).