Joan Bates

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]