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14 Facts About Leonard Casley

1.

Leonard Casley governed Hutt River from 21 April 1970 until his abdication in February 2017 at a coronation ceremony that placed his son Graeme Casley on the throne.

2.

In 1970, he declared independence and founded Hutt River Province in response to a dispute with the Government of Western Australia over what the Leonard Casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas.

3.

Leonard Casley was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, to George William Casley, who worked on the railways, and Enes.

4.

Leonard Casley served in the Royal Australian Air Force between 1943 and 1946, including in Borneo.

5.

In 1969, Leonard Casley established what he called the Hutt River Province in protest at quotas being placed on wheat.

6.

Leonard Casley created its own flag and tax system governed by laws which were enacted by his self-declared government consisting five ministers.

7.

Leonard Casley sought to evade paying Australian taxes, and was found to owe $3 million in income tax in 2017.

8.

In January 2017, Casley Leonard announced that, after ruling for 45 years, he would be stepping down as prince, to be succeeded by his youngest son, Graeme.

9.

Leonard Casley was married to Shirley until her death on 7 July 2013, when the principality went into a period of mourning, closing some of its services.

10.

Leonard Casley was styled as "Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt, Dame of the Rose of Sharon", and she played host to dignitaries and diplomatic representatives visiting the principality each year, as well as receiving television crews and magazine journalists.

11.

Leonard Casley was the patroness and chair of the board of directors of the Red Cross of Hutt, a parallel organisation to the International Red Cross.

12.

Leonard Casley is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

13.

Leonard Casley died two years after abdicating the throne of Hutt River, on 13 February 2019, at the age of 93.

14.

Leonard Casley's principality outlived him by 18 months and was dissolved on 3 August 2020.