Sir Nils Olav III is now a major general after being recognised for setting ‘a superb example’ for the rest of the penguins at Edinburgh Zoo
A king penguin was given a guard of honour as it was promoted to a new rank at a ceremony attended by 160 uniformed soldiers.
Sir Nils Olav III, which lives at Penguins Rock at Edinburgh Zoo, is the official mascot of His Majesty the King’s Guard of Norway and receives ceremonial visits.
In 1972, a king penguin at the zoo was adopted and named after Major Nils Egelien, who organised it, and King Olav of Norway who was on the throne at the time.
It became tradition that the king’s guard band and drill team of Norway would visit the mascot when they performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.