Arise Sir Penguin

Now personally I prefer being in a country which is a constitutional monarchy than a republic (whatever certain US politician think about it not being democratic.

Why? oh its the tradition the ceremony. For example you have job titles like Groom of the Stool. The Groom was a medieval English male "servant "(usually of noble birth) who, among other duties, had the task of cleaning the Monarch's rear after a bowel movement.

This was an important post in the court of Henry VIII. The post later became the Groom of the Stole and was less .... yucky.

But I digress, a penguin has been knighted at Edinburgh zoo. In 1972 a penguin called Nils Olav was made an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard.

The guard adopted Nils Olav after a lieutenant visited the penguins at the zoo in the 1970s. The guardsmen come to see him every few years while they are in Edinburgh performing at the city's Military Tattoo.

The Original Nils Olav died in 1980 and was replaced by another 2 year old penguin

British Major General Euan Loudon officiated at the ceremony, which featured a message of greeting from King Harald V of Norway.

According to Darren McGarry of the zoo:

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.

We're all very excited about his new promotion.

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.

And they say us British are mad!!

Oh you have to check out the video (above) of Sir Nils insepecting the guard!!