Like most regiments the Green Howards have close links to regiments in other countries. In Norway, the Kings Guard is our sister regiment, reflecting the close links between the regiment and the royal House of Norway, going back to Princess Alexandra in 1875.
General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands, is colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard, Oh, and he is a king penguin who resides in Edinburgh Zoo! The Kings Guard adopted a penguin when they visited the Military tattoo in Edinburgh in 1961 and since then a penguin has held this distinction. The tradition has stuck and each time the Guards visit the city, Nils Olav is promoted and invited to inspect the troops once more.
Nils Olav is recognised by Guinness World Records as the highest-ranking penguin. It makes you wonder how many applications for the title they get
Nils Olav the Penguin inspects the Kings Guard of Norway after being bestowed with a knighthood at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.