Thursday, February 3, 2011

Presenting His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt



Best. King. Ever.

OK, so what's not to like:

  1. His 18,500 acre personal domain has been around twice as long as the modern German state.
  2. He has never paid taxes to a foreign power, but does give annual "gifts" to the big player next-door.
  3. He declared war on Australia.
  4. He's leaning on a 5-foot bust of his head! (Presumably erected by his adoring subjects. Or by him.)
No, he's not a Middle-Eastern mufta (I'm actually not sure if that's a thing). He's His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt, husband of Mrs. Casley, Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt. The two have enjoyed 40 prosperous years of sovereignty over the Principality of Hutt River since officially seceding from Australia.

Here are some gems from the article. Really, you have to read it for yourself.

"....As heads of a principality, Mr. Casley, known formally as His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt, and Mrs. Casley, Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt, have also bestowed knighthoods on loyal subjects. How many exactly, Mr. Casley could not recall...."

"....Some 13,000 people had acquired citizenship in Hutt River, which allows dual citizenship. Some live abroad and act as diplomatic envoys, scoring invitations overseas for Mr. Casley, as indicated by the many photographs, newspaper clippings and copies of official documents displayed in a large room serving as a ministry of foreign affairs...."

"....Many officials in Western Australia, some quite high up, and even nationally in Australia are happy to play out the myth of Hutt River’s sovereignty — attending functions, returning correspondence, abandoning the claim for tax...."

What. A. BAMF.

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