Sealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Principality of Sealand |
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| Motto: E Mare Libertas (English: From the Sea, Freedom) Anthem: E Mare Libertas by Basil Simonenko |
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| Status | Current | |
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| Population | 27 (claimed) but only 4 (permit residing as of 2011) | |
| Date of foundation | 2 September 1967 | |
| Leadership | The Bates Family | |
| Organizational structure | Oligarchy, constitutional monarchy | |
| Language | English | |
| Purported currency | Sealand dollar (pegged in value to USD) | |
| Currency code | "None" | |
| Capital | HM Fort Roughs | |
| Ethnic groups | European, North American | |
| Demonym | Sealander, Sealandic | |
| Claimed GDP | US$600,000 (US$22,200 per capita) | |
| Time zone | GMT | |
Sealand is a very small place in the North Sea, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) off the coast of Suffolk, England. It calls itself a country. Sealand is actually an old sea fort called Roughs Tower. The British Royal Navy built it during World War II. It's tiny, with space for only about 300 people. A family named Bates claims Sealand is an independent country, but no other country in the world officially agrees.
Contents
How Sealand is Run
Is Sealand a Real Country?
The Bates family says Sealand is a country because in 1968, a court in England decided that Roughs Tower was in "international waters." This meant it was outside the area where British laws applied.
| Prince of Sealand | |
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Coat of arms
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 HRH Michael Bates, Prince of Sealand since 9 October 2012 |
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| Style | His Royal Highness |
| Residence | Fort Roughs, Sealand |
| Term length | Until Death or Abdication |
| Inaugural holder | HRH Prince Roy Bates of Sealand |
| Formation | 2 September 1967 |
| Final holder | HRH Prince Roy of Sealand |
| Succession | through the Bates bloodline |
| Website | SealandGov.org |
No other country has officially recognized Sealand as an independent state. Some people believe that a place becomes a country as soon as it meets certain rules, even if other countries don't agree. However, in 1987, the United Kingdom changed its rules. It said its waters now extended further out to sea. This means Sealand is now inside the waters that Britain claims as its own territory.
Sealand's Royal Family
Even though its legal status is debated, the Bates family runs Sealand like it's a real country. They act as its royal rulers, passing power down through their family. Roy Bates called himself "Prince Roy," and his wife was "Princess Joan."
Their son, Michael Bates, is known as "His Royal Highness Prince Michael." Since 1999, he has been called the "Prince Regent." This means he acts as Sealand's leader and head of its government. Michael Bates' son, James, has also represented Sealand at events.
Today, one or more people live on Sealand to take care of it. Prince Michael Bates himself lives in England.
Sealand's Rules and Symbols
Sealand has its own set of rules, called a constitution, which was created in 1974. These rules say that Sealand is a constitutional monarchy. This means it has a ruler (the Prince) whose power is limited by the constitution. The rules also talk about how the government works and how laws are made.
Sealand's legal system is said to follow British "common law." This is a system where laws are based on past court decisions. Sealand has even made its own passports and coins. It holds a Guinness World Record for being the "smallest area to lay claim to nation status."
Sealand's motto is E Mare Libertas, which means "From the Sea, Freedom." You can see this motto on Sealand's stamps, passports, and coins. It's also the name of Sealand's anthem, a song composed by Basil Simonenko that doesn't have words.
Selling Sealand
In 2007, the Bates family put an advertisement in a newspaper. They wanted to sell Sealand for about 65 million British pounds.
See also
In Spanish: Principado de Sealand para niños
