You’re Welcome – Sealand edition

This is a little tidbit of info that I KNOW you’ll all be thanking me for bringing to your attention.

This morning I was listening to a podcast in which one contributor (a Brit) mentioned that he had been recruited to play on the international football team for the micro-nation of  Sealand.  Never having heard of this tiny (I mean, really tiny) Shangri-la, I started to look into it.

As it turns out, Sealand (ironically) isn’t land at all.  It was built as a gun platform 7 miles off the coast of England during WWII as a defense against German air strikes.  In 1967, being outside internationally acknowledged British territorial waters, a guy named Roy moved there, crowned himself prince and instituted a semi-constitutional, hereditary monarchy which still exists today.  This little platform has had international incidents (firing on encroaching British navel vessels), fought a war (invasion and capture of sovereign territory by Dutch citizens – resulting in prisoner of war negotiations) and fields of variety athletes who compete for the flag.  Sealand’s national airsoft team – based out of Sheffield – is quite accomplished.

Here are some facts about Sealand:

Head of State: Roy of Sealand or Prince Roy (Acting Head of State: Prince Michael)

Population: 5 (estimated)

GDP: $600,000 USD

Area: 550 Sq. Meters

Based on a newly-aquired understanding of Sealand and facts above, here are my favorite lines from the Sealand website:

Units of the navy [UK] entered the territorial waters claimed by Roy of Sealand. As he was aware of his sovereignty, Roy of Sealand threatened the navy by undertaking defensive activity. Shots were fired from Sealand in warning.

In August of 1978, a number of Dutch men came to Sealand in the employ of a German businessman. They were there to discuss business dealings with Sealand. While Roy was away in Britain, these men kidnapped Prince Roy’s son Michael, and took Sealand by force. Soon after, Roy recaptured the island with a group of his own men and held the attackers as prisoners of war.

The presence of an active and rapidly growing high-tech internet industry in Sealand has changed the character of the Principality; once more, Sealand rings with the sound of voices, boasts regular support ferry services, and is host to a growing and dynamic population.

And for your viewing enjoyment – and because I know you’re all wildly curious – here is a picture of this beautiful nation.

From sea to shining sea

To answer your inevitable question: no, we won’t be immigrating to Sealand.  I already asked and Sarah said no.