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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Military penguin becomes a 'Sir' | Military penguin becomes a 'Sir' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A penguin who was previously made a Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army has been knighted at Edinburgh Zoo. | A penguin who was previously made a Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army has been knighted at Edinburgh Zoo. |
| Penguin Nils Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard since 1972. | |
| Over the years, he has been promoted through the ranks after being adopted by Royal Guard who visited the zoo. | Over the years, he has been promoted through the ranks after being adopted by Royal Guard who visited the zoo. |
| During the ceremony, Nils had a sword dubbed on each side of his head, where his shoulders should be, to confirm his regimental knighthood. | During the ceremony, Nils had a sword dubbed on each side of his head, where his shoulders should be, to confirm his regimental knighthood. |
| A crowd of several hundred people joined the 130 guardsmen at the zoo. A citation from King Harald the Fifth of Norway was read out, which described Nils as a penguin "in every way qualified to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood". | A crowd of several hundred people joined the 130 guardsmen at the zoo. A citation from King Harald the Fifth of Norway was read out, which described Nils as a penguin "in every way qualified to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood". |
| The guardsmen come to see Nils every few years while they are in Edinburgh performing at the city's Military Tattoo. | The guardsmen come to see Nils every few years while they are in Edinburgh performing at the city's Military Tattoo. |
| The proud penguin was on his best behaviour throughout most of the ceremony, but shortly before the ritual was concluded and possibly suffering a bout of nerves he was seen to deposit a discrete white puddle on the ground. | The proud penguin was on his best behaviour throughout most of the ceremony, but shortly before the ritual was concluded and possibly suffering a bout of nerves he was seen to deposit a discrete white puddle on the ground. |
| 'Extremely proud' | 'Extremely proud' |
| Drawing a polite veil over that, Darren McGarry, animal collection manager at the zoo, said afterwards: "It went extremely well and we are delighted that the Norwegian Guard honoured Nils Olav with a knighthood. | Drawing a polite veil over that, Darren McGarry, animal collection manager at the zoo, said afterwards: "It went extremely well and we are delighted that the Norwegian Guard honoured Nils Olav with a knighthood. |
| "We all enjoyed the occasion and Nils was a perfect penguin throughout." | "We all enjoyed the occasion and Nils was a perfect penguin throughout." |
| British Major General Euan Loudon officiated at the ceremony. | British Major General Euan Loudon officiated at the ceremony. |
| Mr McGarry, added: "Nils always recognises the Norwegian guardsmen when they come to visit him. | Mr McGarry, added: "Nils always recognises the Norwegian guardsmen when they come to visit him. |
| "He loves the attention he receives at the ceremony and takes his time inspecting the troops." | "He loves the attention he receives at the ceremony and takes his time inspecting the troops." |
| Nils has also received medals for long service and had a 4ft bronze statue built in his honour. | Nils has also received medals for long service and had a 4ft bronze statue built in his honour. |
| Guardsman Captain Rune Wiik said: "We are extremely proud of Nils Olav and pleased that an enduring part of the Royal Guard is resident in Scotland helping to further strengthen ties between our two countries." | Guardsman Captain Rune Wiik said: "We are extremely proud of Nils Olav and pleased that an enduring part of the Royal Guard is resident in Scotland helping to further strengthen ties between our two countries." |
| However, the penguin honoured on Friday is unfortunately not the original Nils Olav. | However, the penguin honoured on Friday is unfortunately not the original Nils Olav. |
| He died in the 1980s and was replaced by a two-year-old penguin at the Zoo. | He died in the 1980s and was replaced by a two-year-old penguin at the Zoo. |
| Norway presented the zoo with its first king penguin in 1913, the year of its opening. | Norway presented the zoo with its first king penguin in 1913, the year of its opening. |
| David Windmill, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the charity that owns Edinburgh Zoo, said: "We have a long-standing history with the Norwegian King's Guard and it is something we are extremely proud of." | David Windmill, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the charity that owns Edinburgh Zoo, said: "We have a long-standing history with the Norwegian King's Guard and it is something we are extremely proud of." |