Sealand celebrates 50th birthday
On 2 September, one of the world’s tiniest nations celebrated its 50th birthday. During the Second World War (1939 –1945) a twin-towered fortress, called Fort Roughs Tower, was built about eight miles off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea, to protect British waters from enemy invaders. In 1967, the structure was bought by ex-army major Roy Bates who declared it a sovereign state – a territory that has its own government. Bates named the micro-nation Sealand, calling himself Prince, and his wife Princess Joan. The state
has its own flag, passport, currency and national anthem.