Above: Becoming 'Sir' Nils Olav in 2008, in the presence of 130 guardsmen. His new position was so important, that his knighthood has to be approved by King Harald V of Norway!

Did you know that RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is home to a knighted penguin? Meet Sir Nils Olav!

Nils Olav, a king penguin, is named after Major Nils Egelien, who organised the original adoption back in 1972, and the then-King of Norway, King Olav. Following his adoption, Nils was given the role of mascot for the Norwegian Guard and has quickly moved up the ranks:



1982 - Corporal

1987 - Sergeant

1993 - Regimental Sergeant Major

2001 - Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major

2005 - Colonel-in-Chief

2008 - Knighthood

2016 - Brigadier

Below: Watch Sir Nils promotion to Brigadier by the Norwegian Guard in 2016.

Nils is regarded very highly among the Norwegian Guardsman and has received these honours and medals due to his outstanding service and good conduct! The Guardsmen like to visit Nils every few years while they are in the city performing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They last visited in August 2016.

Some other facts you might not know about Sir Nils Olav: