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King penguin receives Norwegian knighthood

Last week saw the knighting of a prominent member of the elite Norwegian King’s Guard - Nils the penguin.

A resident of Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the original Nils Olav was made an honorary member of the King’s Guard in 1972 after being picked out as the guard’s mascot. Accoring to the Associated Press, when the penguin died he was replaced by a second penguin, who inherited Nils Olav’s name and rank.

The current Nils Olav, the third penguin to serve as the guards’ mascot, was promoted from honorable regimental sergeant major to honorary colonel-in-chief in 2005.

The knighthood ceremony began Friday morning with speeches and a fanfare before Nils arrived, under escort with the King’s Guard Color Detachment. Nils then reviewed the troops lined up outside the penguin enclosure at the zoo.

Nils was then knighted by British Maj. Gen. Euan Loudon on behalf of Norway’s King Harald V. The penguin’s colonel-in-chief badge, tied to his flipper, was swapped for one symbolizing his knighthood.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .