Not Queen or King but you can become a knight for just $150: This nation offers honorary titles online

Fascinated by feudalism and its rigid class system? Dreaming of rising above your rank to earn a noble title? While such aspirations are impossible in the United States, where capital, not kings, reign supreme, there are still places where these antiquated titles can be bought. One such place is Sealand, a peculiar micronation just a few miles off the coast of Suffolk, England, where you can purchase the title of knight for $150. Sealand’s physical presence, what was formally known as HM Roughs Tower, a marine fort used in World War II, was occupied by close-knit group led by Paddy Roy Bates, who declared it a sovereign state in 1967.

The Prince of Sealand, Michael Bates, son of Paddy Roy Bates, was interviewed by 60 Minutes. On the small ‘island,’ journalist Jon Wertheim explored the myths, lore, and governing philosophy of this geopolitical anomaly.

During the tour, the prince showed Wertheim an area for passport control, managed by the only full-time resident, a jail, and a ‘national cathedral’ that is much more modest than its counterparts around the world. The program also provided a look at the history of the nation and its roots in pirate radio. The marine forts that were built in the war became hotspots for pirate radio in the 1960s, when, as Wertheim mentions, the BBC, which had full control of the airwaves, only allowed rock and roll to be played for an hour a day. For many growing up in that time, an hour was simply not enough, and the demand for rock music led to massive audiences among the pirate radio stations. Bates was a part of this scene and had seen one of his pirate stations shut down, which is when he took the big step to take over Roughs Tower and declare it an independent country.

Interested in what Sealand has to offer?

The website where these titles can be purchased reads like an elaborate joke. “Upon the declaration of independence, the founding Bates family raised the Sealand flag, pledging freedom and justice to all who lived under it,” states the homepage. Sealand claims to have all the features of an independent country, including “a functioning government, passports, permanent population, constitution, currency, stamps, and the means to defend our sovereignty.” As of 2024, there was only one living resident of Sealand, with the majority of its citizens holding e-citizenship—a digital connection to a place in a world where migration, borders, and birthplace define the nation or nations a person belongs to.

For $126.99, you can become a Baron or Baroness of Sealand. Knighthood, which allows you to add Sir or Dame to your name, costs $149.99. If you’re willing to settle for a slightly less prestigious title, you can opt for Lord or Lady for $26.99. The highest-priced title is Count or Countess, which sells for a staggering $299.99. Bates’ crew doesn’t publish annual statistics, but there is likely a market for these ‘gag’ gifts. The purchase of these titles funds Sealand’s annual budget, which 60 Minutes was unable to ascertain.

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