The Principality of Sealand | Facebook

The 2nd of September is Sealand Independence Day and to celebrate our 48th year, Prince Michael has issued a pre-release edition of his book "Holding The Fort", limited to 500 individually numbered copies.

The book uncovers the truth behind Michael's surreal life and adventures; sleeping with an automatic pistol under his pillow from the age of 14, being kidnapped by armed terrorists, his family setting up their own island nation, government sieges, top-secret government doc...uments and multiple attempts to bring an end to the Sealand dream. The book also includes previously unseen photos from his family's personal collection.

The story of Sealand is stranger than fiction, better than Hollywood and more surreal than Dali - Ben Fogle (Adventurer, author and broadcaster)

"When a story features sawn-off shotguns, dawn helicopter raids, pistol whippings, temperamental generators, shady tax accountants, devious gangsters and at least one flying headbutt to the bridge of the nose, 'romantic' probably isn't the word that springs instantly to mind. Especially when at the heart of that story is an outwardly charmless, forbidding structure way out in the cold and dark of the North Sea. Yet the story of the Principality of Sealand is a patently romantic one. It's a classic case of the underdog kicking against authority and winning; a heartwarming narrative of battling the odds that's grounded in good old- fashioned British eccentricity. It's a riproaring yarn, a classic Boy's Own tale related here by the boy himself, Michael of Sealand, with verve, wit and panache. But look beneath the surface, beyond the guns and dastardly plots, and you learn from these pages that Sealand is also a story of family; of loyalty, respect and devotion flowing between generations and filtered through this tiny principality off the Essex coast; channeled through the dreams, hopes and stubborn stand against seemingly impossible odds of the Bates family. The story of Sealand is like an Ealing comedy crossed with a Bond film and scripted by John Le Carr. It's a story that has often been swathed in myth and blighted by rumour, but here, at last, is the definitive tale from the man best qualified to tell it. And he tells it very well indeed." - Charlie Connelly. Charlie is a bestselling writer and award-winning broadcaster. His books include Attention all shipping.

http://www.sealandgov.org//holding-the-fort-by-michael-of-

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