The world’s one and only knighted penguin lives at Edinburgh Zoo

Sir Nils Olav, the knighted King penguin, is not just an adorable resident of Edinburgh Zoo but also a high-ranking officer in the Norwegian King’s Guard. This exceptional bird's story began when the Norwegian King's Guard visited the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1961, and a lieutenant named Nils Egelien took a keen interest in the zoo's penguin colony. The ties between the military unit and the penguins were fortified, leading to a unique tradition of honouring these birds.

The current Sir Nils Olav III, who has taken up the mantle from his predecessors, has been honoured with knighthood and subsequent promotions, reflecting the enduring and cherished relationship between Norway and the Edinburgh Zoo. In 2023, the penguin was promoted to Major General in a ceremony attended by 120 guardsmen, solidifying his status as the world's highest-ranking penguin.

The zoo itself has a long history with King penguins, being the first in the world to breed them successfully, welcoming its first chick in 1919. Sir Nils Olav, who is part of a bachelor group of King penguins at the zoo, stands out not only for his knighthood but also as a figure that symbolises the historical bonds and shared moments between Scotland and Norway.

Sir Nils Olav’s rank and role go beyond ceremony. On special occasions, he 'inspects' the troops of the Norwegian Guard, much to the delight of onlookers, reflecting a lighter, yet meaningful, aspect of military protocol. The title of Brigadier was bestowed upon him on 22 August, marking a further step in his military 'career', and with his promotion to Major General he took the grand title of Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands.

The tradition of knighting and promoting penguins has become a lasting link between Scotland and Norway.