HRH Prince Leonard George Casley
(Click for larger view)

HRH Prince Leonard George Casley
 27 August 1925 -- 13 February 2019

 
Founder & First Sovereign of the

Principality of Hutt River
 
Protector of the Legends of the Nunda People,
 Past Commander in Chief Royal Hutt River Defence Forces,
 Royal Protector of The Most Noble and Most Worthy Sovereign Order of The Crusaders Cross of Jerusalem,
 Grand Officier du Noble Ordre de Chevalrie et Religieux de la Couronne d'Epines.
 Grand Collar de l'ordre Souverain  Militaire Teutonic et de l'ordre Chevalresque de la Sainte-Croix de Jerusalem.
 Cabildo de Cavalleros Cubicularios De San Ildefonso.
 Grand Collar of the Ordem General Abreu e Lima.
  Kentucky Colonel,
 Founder & Trustee of the Royal College of Advanced Research.
 Past Patron & Honorary Commissioner in Chief of the Legion of Frontiersmen, Independent Command, Canada.
 Past Patron of the "Royal Enfield Club of Australia Inc."

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the Patriarch of the Principality of Hutt River,
HRH Prince Leonard, who passed away peacefully in St John of God hospital 0945 WST Wednesday February 13^th
with his family by his bedside.

The family thanks the staff of St John of God hospital Geraldton for their loving care over the last few days and a special thanks for the wonderful work and care of Dr Sir Gerhard Beukes KGCIOM M.Ch.B(Stell). F.R.A.C.G.P. who looked after Prince Leonard in his last days and indeed for many years now as his personal physician.

Prince Leonard was married for more than 66 years to his late wife HRH Princess Shirley Joy Casley (19/07/1928 - 07/07/2013) and is survived by his 7 children, more than 22 Grand Children & over 30 Great Grand Children.
 
Arrangements for the funeral are yet to be finalized but will consist of a private cremation service for family and close friends only.
This will be followed at a future date with a special memorial to be held in the PHR for all to attend and where Prince Leonard's ashes are also to be scattered as was his wish.

HRH Sovereign Prince Graeme wishes to thank all those, who have offered and provided their support to himself and his family at this time
Prince Graeme also wishes to thank all those who have sent messages of love and kindness, your kind thoughts and actions are a blessing during this time and we benefit greatly from them.
All love and support will be greatly appreciated through the rough days ahead as Prince Leonard is farewelled and Prince Graeme and the Casley family begin the next stage in their journey and the journey of the Principality of Hutt River.

The Principality of Hutt River Offices and the border will now shut down and the border gates will be closed for a period of mourning,  being in place for the next 3 weeks.
No visitors will be allowed entry to the PHR. No visas will be issued until the border re-opens on Monday March 04^th 2019.
Emails will still be attended to during this period, though with some delays during this time.
No Government services will be available.
This of course means that camping and overnight stays in the Principality will be unavailable during this time of mourning.
Please respect these wishes at this difficult time.

As a mark of respect for HRH Prince Leonard, it is commanded that all flags of the PHR, wherever they may be flown, are to immediately be lowered to half-mast and remain at such for the period of mourning returning to full mast March 04^th.

We trust all will understand and bear with us at this time as this loss is a great blow to all of us here in the Principality.
The loss of Prince Leonard will be sorely felt.

PRINCE LEONARD IN MEMORIAL

Prince Leonard was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia on 27^th August 1925 and passed away on 13^th February 2019.
However, in between those 93 plus years he lived many lifetimes. 

One of his earliest memories was in the outback of South Autralia at Quorn where he went to school for a short time. His father George William Casley was working for the Continental Railways and would travel the Nullabor. One anecdote Prince Leonard often recalled was one day going to school he saw a hurt Love Bird Parrot that had been in a fight with another. Prince Leonard picked it up and took it to school. His teacher gave him a shoe box to place it in. Come recess time the other children wanted to see it. So the young innocent boy took the lid off the box and yes it flew away. 

Another story was of the large Perenties that raced the trains until they tired of that and outpaced train as they disappeared into the bush. He learned the ways and customs of the Aboriginal Peoples as he lived with these people in their environment. 

Around nine years of age the family moved to Fremantle. It was there at this young age that he had his first taste of commercial venture. He would sell the passengers on the cruise ships wildflowers that he would pick, until an official asked, “if he had a permit for that?” He didn’t and that was the end of that enterprise. 

He left school at 14 and was employed as a shipping clerk at James Kiernan Ltd., Fremantle Harbour. Then at 18 years entered the Royal Australian Air Force, where he served in Australia and islands in and around Borneo. After the war he returned to civilian life and started a fruit and vegetable export business to Singapore. This was very successful however he went on to bigger things.

During his time in the Air Force he met Shirley Joy at a dance in Fremantle. After the war ended they married and went on to be life partners and over the next eleven years had seven children.

He bought a wheat and sheep farm at Westonia which he ran successfully and built up to 28,500 acres over many years, he sold up and moved to Perth, where he built a block of sixty flats. Some years later with his sons leaving school and wanting to go farming he travelled the state and found the farms at Hutt River.

In 1969 with the introduction of Wheat Quotas was the start of his battle with the Government to save the farm. The only solution he could find was to secede his farming lands, to be a fully independent nation.

This he did. One man against the West Australian, Australian and British Governments, quite an achievement as they had their Army, Navy and Air Force Departments, Lawyers and  Barristers to try to combat this from happening. But he saved the farm and ruled the PHR for over 47years.

He is survived by his seven children, and over fifty Grand and Great Grand Children.

His love waited patiently for him until he had done what he needed then she reached out her hand to him to guide him home.
They are together again forever more.

Prince Graeme
Sovereign
Principality of Hutt River
 

Sending of Messages of Condolence

Condolences may be emailed direct to the Sovereigns Aide de Camp Lord Baikie
phr.adc@principality-hutt-river.org 

 All such will be handed to HRH Prince Graeme.
All electronic messages will be published on a Memorial Wall here on the website and archived for perpetuity.
(Personal details removed)

Condolence cards/messages can be posted to:

HRH Prince Graeme
Government Buildings
Principality of Hutt River
Via Western Australia 6535

HRH Prince Leonard George Casley
27^th August 1925 -- 13^th February 2019
Gone......But never forgotten!

(Click all thumbnails for larger images)
 

 CREMATION - FINAL FAREWELL SERVICES

In line with Prince Leonard's wishes, he will be cremated at a private ceremony for family and invited guests only, at the Geraldton Crematorium Friday February 22^nd 2019.

It was Prince Leonard's wish that his ashes be spread in the PHR and this we will likely do over the Australian Easter long weekend April 19 - 22 with April 21, the date of the 49th Anniversary of the PHR having been chosen to be the date for a public farewell and to acknowledge the 49th anniversary of the foundation of the PHR by Prince Leonard back on April 21^st 1970. Members of the public will be invited to attend on this weekend (by invitations so look for the email details to get your free invite) to pay their last respects for Prince Leonard and to help spread his ashes in the Principality as he so desired.

The day for the celebration will be Sunday April 21^st which is also the 49^th anniversary of the PHR.
More will be published concerning the celebration weekend as information comes to hand.
Please keep watching the website for further details.

If you would like to attend on that weekend then you must contact us first to receive an invitation
as we do have to consider the numbers that can attend.

Email:  phr.adc@principality-hutt-river.org
To confirm your free invite.

&
Final Farewell to
HRH Prince Leonard

READ HERE & LEARN HOW TO JOIN US
FOR THIS OCCASSION -
{BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL}

&
Final Farewell to
HRH Prince Leonard

READ HERE & LEARN HOW TO JOIN US
FOR THIS OCCASSION -
{BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL}

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Principality of Hutt River
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