Joan Bates

Paddy Roy Bates's wife (1929–2016)

Joan Bates

Bates in the 1970s

Born|

Joan Collins

(1929-09-02)2 September 1929

Aldershot, Hampshire, UK

Died| 10 March 2016(2016-03-10) (aged 86)

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, UK

Title| Princess consort of Sealand
Spouse|

Paddy Roy Bates

(m. 1949; died 2012)​

Children|

* Michael Bates
* Penelope "Penny" Bates

Parents|

* Albert Collins (father)
* Elizabeth Collins (mother)

Joan Bates (née Collins; 2 September 1929 – 10 March 2016), also known as Princess Joan of Sealand, was the wife of Paddy Roy Bates, a British entrepreneur who founded the self-proclaimed micronation known as the Principality of Sealand.

## Early life

[edit]

Bates was born Joan Collins in 2 September 1929 at Aldershot Barracks in England, the daughter of RSM Albert Collins of the Royal Horse Artillery, and his wife, Elizabeth.[1][2][3] The family were later stationed at Shoebury Barracks.

As a young woman, Joan was a carnival queen and model who,[2] according to her son Michael, "modelled for all sorts of companies".[4]

## Marriage

[edit]

Joan met British Army major Paddy Roy Bates at the Kursaal dance hall in Southend-on-Sea. At the time he was recuperating from serious burns suffered during World War II. They married three months later in 1949[2][5][6] at the Caxton Hall Registry Office in London.[3] They had two children, Penelope "Penny" and Michael.[4][7]

## Sealand

[edit]

In the 1960s, Roy and Joan launched a pirate radio station and on Joan's birthday on 2 September 1967, they declared the Principality of Sealand independent, appointing themselves Prince Roy and Princess Joan,[5] thus making Joan the "self-proclaimed ruler of the world's smallest kingdom".[8]

## Death

[edit]

Bates died on 10 March 2016 at a Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, nursing home, following a long illness.[4] Her funeral was held on 17 March, with her coffin draped with the flag of Sealand. She was survived by her two children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.[3]

Bates featured on at least one postage stamp issued by the Principality, as well as coins inscribed "Princess Joan".[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Fitzsimons, Sean (28 March 2016). "Princess Joan of Sealand - obituary" - via www.telegraph.co.uk.
2. ^ a b c Joan Bates dead: Founder and 'princess' of Sealand dies aged 86. Cahal Milmo, The Independent, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
3. ^ a b c d Remembering Sealand’s First Sovereign Princess Joan, 1929–2016. Archived 1 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine Michael Alexander, Coin Update, 22 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
4. ^ a b c Joan Bates who raised her family on the principality of Sealand dies aged 86. Harwitch & Manningtree Standard, 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
5. ^ a b 'Princess' Joan of Sealand independent state dies at 86. BBC News, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
6. ^ ‘Princess Joan of Sealand’: Former carnival queen who became Princess of Sealand after she and her husband Roy set up the 'micro-nation'. Martin Childs, The Independent, 15 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
7. ^ MacEacheran, Mike. "Sealand: A peculiar 'nation' off England's coast". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
8. ^ First Princess of Sealand dies aged 86. Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer, The Times, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016. (subscription required)

* v
* t
* e

The Principality of Sealand

Micronation

Background|

* HM Fort Roughs
* Pirate radio
* Wonderful Radio London

People|

| Bates family|

* Paddy Roy Bates
* Joan Bates
* Michael Bates

|

HavenCo|

* Sean Hastings
* Ryan Lackey
* Sameer Parekh

Topics|

Coins and postage stamps of Sealand

Sports|

* Sealand national football team
* Sealand Seahawks

Related|

* The Battle of Sealand
* Radio Newyork International

*[m.]: married
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template