Michael I, Prince of Sealand
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| Prince Michael | |
|---|---|
 Michael I, holding the 'Holding the Fort' biography about Sealand, circa 2015 | |
| 2nd Prince of Sealand | |
| Reign | 9 October 2012 - Present |
| Preceded by | Prince Roy I |
| Born | 2 August 1952 |
| Consort | Princess Mei Shi |
Prince Michael I (born as Michael Roy Bates; 2 August 1952) is a businessman and self-published author who is currently the Head of state of Sealand.
Early life
Michael Bates was born to Prince Patrick and Princess Joan Bates on 2 August 1952. On 24 December 1966, at the age of 14, Michael joined his father Roy in occupying HM Fort Roughs. On 2 September 1967, Prince Patrick "Roy" and his family moved to Sealand. Michael left his boarding school to visit the platform and ended up never going back, stating, "I thought it was a six-week adventure, not 34 years."
Battle to retake Sealand
In August 1978, Alexander Achenbach, who described himself as the Prime Minister of Sealand hired German and Dutch mercenaries to take over Sealand after some disputes with Prince Patrick, who was with his wife in England at the time, and they took Michael hostage. Michael was eventually able to retake Sealand and capture Achenbach and the mercenaries using weapons stashed on the platform.
Reign
After his father's death in 2012, Michael took over as the Prince of Sealand, and is currently the reigning monarch as of 2023.
Under his reign, a new website for Sealand was created and the principality became more active from 2022.
Personal life and other ventures
Bates divides his time between Sealand and Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. He wanted his three children to attend English schools.
Bates runs a shellfish company that harvests cockles. The business, called Fruits of the Sea, is run by Bates and his sons James and Liam. He also has a daughter named Charlotte. All three children are with his former wife, Lorraine Wheeler. Bates's second wife is Mei Shi, a former officer in the Chinese People's Liberation Army.