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A Colonel Inspects His Regiment

Nils Olav and the King of Norway’s Guards

The King of Norway’s Guards is the household regiment of that Scandinavian sovereign, but their honorary colonel resides in Edinburgh, where the regimental band often performs in the famous Military Tattoo held each summer. This year, the Colonel was honored with no less than a knighthood and took the opportunity of the unit’s presence in Edinburgh to inspect the regiment. Ordinarily, this would be an unremarkable event were it not for the fact that the Colonel is Nils Olav, a penguin currently in residence at the Edinburgh Zoo.

“Belt buckle needs shining,” the assiduous colonel was heard to mumble.

Nils Olav is a rather spectacular member of the species Aptenodytes patagonicus, or King Penguin, second in the aptenodytal realm only to the larger Emperor Penguin made so famous by the recent “March of the Penguins” documentary film. The knighting ceremony, in which the citation from King Harald V of Norway was read and the Colonel was dubbed with a sword, took place in Edinburgh Zoo. Major General Euan Loudon of the British Army attended the chivalric rite, as did 130 guardsmen of the Norwegian regiment.

“We are extremely proud of Nils Olav,” Captain Rune Wiik said, “and pleased that an enduring part of the Royal Guard is resident in Scotland helping to further strengthen ties between our two countries.”

Nils Olav’s rank badge was borne on his right wing for the ceremony.

Published at 9:27 pm on Wednesday 3 September 2008. Categories: Edinburgh Great Britain Military Monarchy Scotland Tags: , , , .
Comments

Three cheers for Colonel Nils Olav and three cheers for His Majesty King Harald V!

What wonderful photos. This article really brightened up a rather dreary day!

— Mike D. 4 Sep 2008 3:14 pm

Brilliant!

I love the fact that my comrades of the Norwegian 130 guardsmen are disiplined to
the letter of the law.

Well Done.

— Capt Stephen Chledowski 6 Sep 2008 10:59 pm
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