King gets promotion
August 23, 2016 9:07 AM   Subscribe

A post to celebrate the ascension of Sir Nils Olav III to Brigadier. The UK and Norway have a long history of mutual support. Not long after Norwegian independence explorers from each country raced for the South Pole. The UK had a lead role in efforts to liberate Norway in WW2, including hosting the king in exile, as commemorated by the annual gift of a Christmas tree from the people of Oslo to the people of London, another goes from Bergen to Newcastle, and there are numerous others.

Perhaps less known is that Sir Nils Olav, the Colonel-in-Chief (now Brigadier) of the Norwegian Royal Guard has been resident in Edinburgh since 1972. The third in a proud line, Sir Nils makes himself available to review any Norwegian military units visiting the city. The Royal Guard are appearing at the Edinburgh Tattoo and thus for review, and the Norwegian king has taken the opportunity to elevate him to Brigadier, adding to his 2008 knighthood. While this may sound like a relaxed attitude to royal security, the brigadier's pay is rumoured to be small fry. The ceremony took place at Edinburgh Zoo's Penguin Walk yesterday.
posted by biffa (4 comments total) 18 users marked this as a favorite
 
This brought a tear to my eye and a stirred the mighty cords of my heavy heart. Thanks for posting.
posted by clockzero at 9:11 AM on August 23, 2016 [1 favorite]


it must be a testament to the terrible state of the world right now that this led me to sobbing in joy

Come, noble penguin, let us together storm all the castles of terribleness in the world and destroy them!
posted by barchan at 9:24 AM on August 23, 2016 [4 favorites]


What I love the most about this line of proud servicepenguins is that part of their official duties is to actually run an inspection of soldiers. Sir Nils may not say much, but I imagine that it's only out of courtesy, given the high profile of the event. On the inside, it might be ready to yell at the guardsmen for their lack of mating stones and incomplete plumage
posted by andycyca at 9:36 AM on August 23, 2016 [3 favorites]


I must admit, a king penguin is a noble looking beast. At least when not bellyflopping their way to sea.
posted by tavella at 8:49 PM on August 23, 2016


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