Michael Bates (Sealand)

Michael Bates
Michael Bates in 2008.
Born (1952-08-02) 2 August 1952
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom
Residence Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, UK
Other names Prince Michael of Sealand
Education Lindisfarne College
Occupation Fisherman
Known for leader of the Principality of Sealand
Notable work Principality of Sealand: Holding the Fort
Children 3
Parent(s) Paddy Roy Bates
Joan Bates

Michael Bates (born 2 August 1952), also known as Prince Michael of Sealand,[1] is a British author and businessman. He is also leader of a micronation called the Principality of Sealand, which he inherited from his parents Paddy Roy Bates and Joan Bates. He has claimed the title "Prince of Sealand" since 2012.

Biography

Michael Bates was born to Paddy Roy Bates and Joan Bates on 2 August 1952. In 1966, at the age of 14, Michael joined his father Paddy in occupying HM Fort Roughs, which they started using as a broadcasting tower.[2] Michael left his boarding school to visit the tower and ended up never going back, stating, "I thought it was a six-week adventure, not 34 years."[3] On 2 September 1967, Paddy declared sovereignty over the tower, and moved his family permanently to Sealand, including wife Joan, son Michael, and daughter Penelope.[2]

On whether Sealand is a sovereign state, Bates stated, "We have never asked for recognition, and we’ve never felt the need to ask for recognition. You don't have to have recognition to be a state, you just have to fulfill the criteria of the Montevideo Convention which is population, territory, government and the capacity to enter into negotiation with other states. We can and we have done all these things. We've had the German ambassador visit at one point to discuss something: that was defacto recognition. We've had communication with the president of France many years ago, but we have never asked for recognition and we don’t feel we need it."[4]

Bates resides in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, within the United Kingdom. He wanted his three children to attend English schools.[4] He is "proudly British" and considers himself of dual nationality.[1]

Bates runs a fishing business that collects cockles to sell in Spain.[5] The business, called Fruits of the Sea, is run by Bates and his sons James and Liam.[6] He also has a daughter named Charlotte. All three children are with his former wife, Lorraine Wheeler.[7] As of 2017, Bates' partner is Meishi.[8]

In 2015, Bates published a memoir about his experiences with Sealand called Principality of Sealand: Holding the Fort.[9] Bates presented a discussion of his book at Estuary 2016, an art, literature, music and film festival.[10]

In September 2017, Bates held a dinner to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sealand, stating, "We're perhaps the most undemanding state in the world. We don't force anybody to worship any god or religion or anything. Maybe that's why we’ve lasted so long. Hopefully I'll be around for the next 50!"[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Tingle, Rory (January 14, 2017). "World's smallest self-proclaimed nation - an old WWII fort the size of two tennis courts - gets 'thousands' of citizenship requests following votes for Brexit and Donald Trump". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 Lyon, Andrew H. E. (2015). "The Principality of Sealand, and Its Case for Sovereign Recognition". Emory Law. 29 (3). Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Mathieson, Steven (October 20, 2000). "Prince Michael of Sealand cries freedom". V3. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 Eveleth, Rose (April 15, 2015). "I rule my own micronation". BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  5. ↑ Milmo, Cahal (March 18, 2016). "Sealand's Prince Michael on the future of an off-shore 'outpost of liberty'". Independent. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Drake, Kristina (February 16, 2016). "New Rochford cockle factory hopes to revolutionise industry". Echo News. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Gye, Hugo (March 15, 2016). "The Princess of Sealand - self-proclaimed ruler of world's smallest independent state whose kingdom was North Sea platform the size of two tennis courts - dies aged 86". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "North Sea 'sovereign state' Sealand marking 50th anniversary". The Mail. September 2, 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Bates, Michael (June 1, 2015). Principality of Sealand: Holding the Fort. Principality of Sealand. ISBN 978-0993320002.
  10. ↑ "Michael Bates aka Michael of Sealand". Estuary. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Sealand, sovereign state off Suffolk coastline, to mark its 50th anniversary with Essex dinner". East Anglian Daily Times. September 2, 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Paddy Roy Bates		 Prince of Sealand
2012–present
 Incumbent
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