The British family that lives in the world's smallest country

If you think you'd have to travel to the other side of the world to visit the most remote countries, you've clearly never heard of Sealand.

This unique sea fort sits about 12km east of Suffolk in the North Sea, but despite being so close to the UK and a manmade platform, it claims to be a nation of its own.

And this claim is certainly backed by the British family that lives there.

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Sealand even has its own national flag and anthem, a currency, stamps and passports, and just in case you weren't convinced of its sovereignty, there's even a Sealand football team.

As explained by BBC Travel, the principality was built by the UK Government during World War II as an army and navy fort in 1942.

Also known as Rough Tower, the platform was used for various purposes until 1956 when it was evacuated and left to the elements.

However, this all changed in 1966 when a man named Paddy Roy Bates took over the tower. You see, Paddy needed somewhere to run his pirate radio station, Radio Essex.

Although he initially set up camp on Knock John, another abandoned naval fort, he had to jump ship – so to speak – after the UK introduced the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967, with the intention of shutting down offshore stations.

Following a run-in with the law, Paddy announced the fort to be the Principality of Sealand, and not long after, his family moved in.

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Upon his death at the age of 91, he was succeeded by his son, Michael Bates, in 2012, who now serves as the micro-nation’s Head of State and Government, as well as being the owner of a cockle fishing business that exports seafood to Spain.

Michael was even married on Sealand in 1978 in a (not so) traditional ceremony involving a helicopter on board the principality.

But like many countries, Sealand doesn't come without its controversies, ranging from hostage situations to territory disputes.

This includes the time in 1968 when Sealand fired defensive warning shots at the British Navy when the military was dispatched to destroy all other remaining forts located in international waters.

Since Roy was still a British citizen, a summons was issued under the UK 'firearms act', resulting in them being called to the mainland to the Crown Court of Chelmsford assizes in Essex.

And in 1978, Alexander Achenbach - the self-proclaimed former prime minister of Sealand - hired several German and Dutch mercenaries to lead an attack on Sealand while Roy and his wife were in Austria.

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Michael was taken hostage, but he was able to retake Sealand and capture Alexander and the mercenaries using weapons stashed on the platform.

Unsurprisingly, Sealand isn't a place that can be visited very easily and at the moment, visits are not usually permitted.

If you do manage to make the trek though, there's not all that much that goes on there - unsurprisingly.

There isn’t exactly a plethora of accommodation choices or a list of places to eat out.

Unfortunately, even if you wanted to visit Sealand, the chances of having a visa accepted are remote.

According to their government website: "Due to the current international situation and other factors, visits to the Principality of Sealand are not normally permitted.

"Accordingly, the application list for visas is for the time being closed."

Visits to Sealand may not be happening any time soon, but you can still become a Lord or Lady of the island for a fee of £29.99. Additionally, you can purchase a Sealand identity card too.

Despite not being formally recognised as an official country, Prince Michael previously told the BBC that Sealand 'still maintains its independence', and it continues to be inhabited by numerous residents, including two full-time security guards.

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People from all around the world continue to email the micro-nation's officials requesting to join Sealand and leave behind the laws of the land.

"We don’t live in a society where people like being told what to do, and everybody loves the idea of liberty and freedom from government," concluded Michael.

"The world needs inspiring territories like us – and there aren’t many places like this that exist."