Hutt River’s royal founder Prince Leonard Casley laid to rest

As the solemn sound of Hutt River’s national anthem played, a royal casket bedazzled with what appeared to be native flora and the province flag was lowered by pallbearers from a silver hearse.

Bright sun and cloudless skies greeted about 100 friends and family of Prince Leonard Casley today, as they gathered at Geraldton Crematorium to say their final goodbyes to the late royal.

Pallbearers marched the sovereign forward before disappearing inside the closed ceremony, preceded by family holding the Prince’s portrait with pride.

Prince Leonard died aged 93 at St John of God Hospital after suffering severe chest infection on the morning of February 13.

At the time of his death his youngest son Prince Graeme described his dad as a man of “small stature but big shoes”.

“He was so sharp of mind right to the last 24 hours, it was incredible,” he said.

“He’s a man that lived three lifetimes, and he did very well to get to 93.”

The eccentric character seceded from the Commonwealth in April, 1970, after a disagreement on the State’s newly introduced wheat production quota.

He declared himself His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt and established WA’s biggest micronation - the Hutt River Province - now known as the Principality of Hutt River.

The province, west of Northampton, became a popular tourist destination, attracting roughly 40,000 visitors a year.

The sovereign patriarchlived in conflict with the Commonwealth, which insisted the Casley family owed about $3 million in unpaid tax.

He has been remembered in the Mid West—and across micronations globally—as a nut, a genius, a little eccentric and above all, an inspiration.

A public service is scheduled for Easter weekend at the Principality of Hutt River Chapel.

Hutt River Province will reopen to visitors again on March 4.