The Principality of Sealand is a self-proclaimed micronation located on a former World War II naval fort in the North Sea, about seven miles off the coast of England. Established in 1967 by Paddy Roy Bates, Sealand claims to be an independent sovereign state, although it is not officially recognized by any country. Sealand has its own flag, national anthem, and currency, and it operates as a small community with a few residents. The fort has been the subject of various legal disputes and attempts at recognition, but it remains largely a symbolic entity rather than a fully functioning nation.