A penguin has been promoted to Brigadier in the King of Norway's Guard.

Penguin gets promoted to Brigadier

Penguin gets promoted to Brigadier

Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, who has been an honorary member of the Norwegian Guard, has now gone up the ranks and been promoted from knight to Brigadier.

The ceremony, which was held for the highly decorated animal, was witnessed by 50 Norwegian soldiers who visited the Scottish capital as part of this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Barbara Smith from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said: ''We are honoured to host His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard as they bestow a prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav.

''It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway.''

Official military animal mascots are a long standing tradition in the Armed Forces, with a Lance Corporal Shetland pony in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and a Fusilier goat in the 1st Battalion of The Royal Welsh.