The Catalyst

By Joel Mashburn, Reporter

On September 2, 1967, former English major and radio broadcaster Paddy Roy Bates made history. He discovered an old and abandoned antiaircraft pad located just seven miles out from the English coastline. He quickly declared his artificial island a nation and named himself the “HPR Prince” and his wife “Princess Joan”, this new nation was to be called Sealand.

Soon after discovery the Royal family moved aboard their home and started renovation. Bates poured millions of pounds into his nation; double-glazing the port to prevent cold drafts, electric motors, telephones, and other improvements were made.

This happiness would not last however. In 1968 the UK navy discovered the presents of Sealand and moved to evict the Royal family. While the navy boats were several hundred feet away Prince Bates fired several warning shots from his rifle, because he was still technically a citizen of England he was accused of extensive crimes and summoned to an English court. However, the court ruled that because Sealand is out of English water’s (at the time it was three miles from the coast) the claims were miss founded.

From then on Sealand has lived in peace except for passport fraud, and a small coup involving a helicopter and a shotgun. At this time, Sealand is offering the title of Lord, Lady, Baron, and Baroness. So, who will be the next royalty?