Joan Bates

Joan Bates was born Joan Collins on 2 September 1929 at Aldershot Barracks, England, the daughter of RSM Albert Collins of the Royal Horse Artillery, and his wife, Elizabeth.[1][2] The family were later stationed at Shoebury Barracks.

As a young woman, Joan was a carnival queen and model who,[1] according to her son Michael, "modelled for all sorts of companies".[3]

Joan met British Army major Paddy Roy Bates at the Kursaal dance hall in Southend-on-Sea. At the time he was recuperating from serious burns suffered during World War II. They married three months later in 1949[1][4][5] at the Caxton Hall Registry Office in London.[2] They had two children, Penelope "Penny" and Michael.[3]

In the 1960s, Roy and Joan launched a pirate radio station and on Joan's birthday on 2 September 1967, they declared the Principality of Sealand independent, appointing themselves Prince Roy and Princess Joan,[4] thus making Joan the "self-proclaimed ruler of the world's smallest kingdom".[6]

Bates died on 10 March 2016 at a Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, nursing home, following a long illness.[3] Her funeral was held on 17 March, with her coffin draped with the flag of Sealand. She was survived by her two children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.[2]

Bates featured on at least one postage stamp issued by the Principality, as well as coins inscribed "Princess Joan".[2]