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Sir Nils Olav made a brigadier ahead of military parade in Edinburgh

A member of the Norwegian Royal Guard has been promoted at Edinburgh Zoo. Sir Nils Olav III,...
Newstalk
Newstalk

12.33 25 Aug 2016


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Sir Nils Olav made a brigadier...

Sir Nils Olav made a brigadier ahead of military parade in Edinburgh

Newstalk
Newstalk

12.33 25 Aug 2016


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A member of the Norwegian Royal Guard has been promoted at Edinburgh Zoo.

Sir Nils Olav III, who is a penguin, was visited by the King of Norway's Guard in order to receive the title of 'Brigadier' on Monday.

Sir Nils Olav III, named after Nils Olav I and Nils Olav II, takes his name from Major Niels Egelien and King Olav, who both took part in Olav I's adoption in 1972.

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Nils Olav I was made a corporal in 1982, and through a great deal of struggle, laid down a work ethic for his successors to emulate.

Such an example is evidently where Sir Nils Olav III, the most decorated member of his family to date, draws inspiration.

Sir Olav was named Colonel-in-Chief in 2005 before being knighted personally by King Harald V of Norway.

As an honorary member of the King's Guard, he is obligated to inspect the troops whenever they are in the Scottish capital. The army is examined by their smallest member every few years when they return for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - a military band performance.

The mascot for the Norwegian military is a king penguin, the same species as the Olav line, a species that is extensively cared for and researched in Edinburgh zoo and have been since the 1990s.

The military distinction is in part to celebrate the bond the two nations have created through shared appreciation of the species. 

Sir Olav's Scottish counterpart Brigadier David Allfrey, the head of the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo, said: "This is a fantastic example of the great relations between our two countries. At the tattoo we have many inspecting officers, but this is by far my favorite."


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