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Already a knight, Sir Nils Olav was given the promotion during a special ceremony at Edinburgh Zoo on Monday August 22. The King of Norway’s Guard made a special visit to the zoo in order to give the title of brigadier to the famous king penguin.

Why was Nils Olav the penguin knighted? Sir Nils was knighted with the approval of King Harald V of Norway in 2008. This is because the penguin is the mascot of his guard. The Norwegian guardsmen have visited the penguin every few years to give him a new promotion ever since his adoption as their mascot in 1972.

RZSS/KATIE PATON/ CATERS

He was made a corporal in 1982, a sergeant in 1987, a regimental sergeant Major in 1993, honourable regimental sergeant major in 2001 and colonel-in-chief in 2005. Barbara Smith, acting chief executive officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said they were honoured to hose the guardsmen as they bestowed the title. She said: “It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway.”

Why is Nils Olav a royal guard mascot? In 1972, the penguin was named after the then-King of Norway, King Olav, and then-Major Nils Egelien, who organised his adoption. The retired major first saw the zoo’s penguins during a visit to a prestigious series of military parades known as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Major Egelien told the BBC: "It all started in 1961 when the King's Guard of Norway came to the military tattoo and we were very very interested in the king penguins.

Interesting facts about penguins Fri, April 22, 2016 To celebrate World Penguin Day (April 25) here are some interesting facts about penguins. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 11 Penguins evolved to stay in the Southern Hemisphere because there are no land predators, like wolves or polar bears, to take make quick work of the plump flightless prey

"In 1972 we came back again and adopted a king penguin in the name of Nils Olav and the rank of lance corporal.” Edinburgh has a long tradition of working with Norway to look after penguins. The Norwegian family of Christian Salvesen presented the zoo with its first king penguins in 1914. Why do the King of Norway’s Guard visit Edinburgh? The Norwegian royal guardsman regularly visit the Scottish town for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Well Brigadier Sir Nils Olav had a good morning. This is why my jobs so great! @EdinburghZoo @rzss pic.twitter.com/j4Kk6HU7GA — Darren McGarry (@McgarryDarren) August 22, 2016