🐧 Sir Nils Olav III
King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) · Penguins Rock, Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland
Lives in Arctic Shelf
The Norwegian King's Guard adopted a penguin at Edinburgh Zoo in 1972, naming him for Major Nils Egelien and King Olav V. Three penguins have carried the name since. The current holder was knighted in 2008 with King Harald V's approval and promoted to Major General on 21 August 2023 in front of more than 160 uniformed Norwegian soldiers, becoming Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands. Guinness World Records recognises him as the highest-ranking penguin. Footage of a penguin inspecting a parade of soldiers goes round the internet again with every promotion. On 14 August 2026 his mate Connie laid Scotland's first king penguin egg in 17 years.
What they do
Waddles slowly along a line of soldiers with both flippers held stiffly out from his body, stops, and draws himself up to full height with his chest pushed forward - a three-frame inspection march..
Carries himself like the senior officer he is and expects the parade to wait for him.
Lore
- ★The tradition dates to 1972; he is the third penguin to hold the name, and the Guard promotes him each time they visit Edinburgh.
- ★Knighted in 2008 with the approval of King Harald V, and promoted to Major General on 21 August 2023 before over 160 uniformed soldiers.
- ★Guinness World Records lists him as the highest-ranking penguin in the world.
- ★On 14 August 2026 his mate Connie laid Scotland's first king penguin egg since 2009, making the Major General a first-time father at 55 days and counting.
Helping the real one
💛 Support Sir via Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo)RZSS owns and runs Edinburgh Zoo, where Sir Nils lives; registered Scottish charity SC004064. Donation page fetched and confirmed working. This opens their own official page. Money never touches this site.
Where this comes from
- STV News World's highest-ranking penguin to become a dad, 21 August 2026 ↗
- Edinburgh Zoo First king penguin egg in 17 years, and Sir Nils is the dad ↗
- Edinburgh Zoo Nils Olav parades his way to a new honour, August 2016 ↗
Every link here was checked twice before it was published. If one is dead or wrong, tell us.