Just an hour off the UK coast, 13km from Essex, you’ll find the world’s smallest country which is home to just three people.
Sealand is a country formed in the late 1960s from Roughs Tower, an abandoned war fortress by a former British Army Major named Roy Bates.
It all started when Roy had his own radio station “Radio Essex” but faced legal restrictions as BBC was the only station that was allowed in the UK at the time. So, what did he do?
He travelled to the fortress, as its location is considered as international waters. However, when he arrived, his plan shifted, and he declared the fortress island the independent state of “Sealand” and himself as king.
Today, Sealand is occupied by his two grandsons, Prince Liam and Prince James, as well as a security guard who lives there 24/7.
It has seven bedrooms that sit inside the tower right at sea level, a kitchen, a living room, a toilet, a multi-faith chapel, a gym and even a jail – where a German lawyer who tried to invade the state served time.
Not only did they serve three months of jail time, but Germany sent a diplomat from its London embassy to Sealand to negotiate for the lawyer’s release.
Although the UK has ruled that it has no jurisdiction over Sealand, the UK doesn’t recognise it as a country, and despite it being so close, travelling to Sealand is far from easy.
Believe it or not, both a signed release form and a Visa are required to enter the state, and its rulers only plan to make the state even greater by having their own digital currency and digital citizens.
Seeland’s message is “freedom, independence and pursuing your dreams”, and they don’t plan on anyone holding them back.
