Roy Bates, self-styled prince of Sealand, a British sea fort, dies at 91
An instigator of Britain's pirate radio boom, Roy Bates declared himself sovereign of a sea fort
The self-styled Prince Roy of Sealand, who declared a sovereign principality on an abandoned British sea fort, has died aged 91, Sealand's website announced.
Roy Bates, a former British army major, occupied Fort Roughs in 1966. The 550-square-metre platform lies 13 kilometres off England in the North Sea. Bates declared it independent from Britain on September 2, 1967, triggering debate as to whether or not it truly counted as the world's smallest country.
Bates died on Wednesday at a care home on the mainland after suffering from Alzheimer's.
After serving in the second world war, he became involved in the 1960s pirate radio boom, broadcasting offshore from ships and disused sea forts to break the BBC's monopoly and play pop music, to the delight of millions of teenagers.
Sealand has issued its own stamps, passports and money and fielded sports teams for "international" matches. Its official language is English and the Sealand dollar has a fixed exchange rate of one US dollar.
Sealand has its own red, white and black flag, and a national motto of "E Mare Libertas", or "From the Sea, Freedom".