Sir Nils Olav, a knight of the Kingdom of Norway and the Baron of Bouvet Island near Antarctica, is, according to Guinness World Records, the highest-ranking penguin in the world. He has held that title for some time, having steadily risen through the ranks of the Norwegian Royal Guard from a lance corporal in 1961. Sir Nils is actually a foreigner – a British penguin who resides at his post (a zoo) in Edinburgh.
Now I do owe it to our readers to inform them that some chicanery is at play. The penguin is actually just a mascot, not an actual military officer of the Kingdom of Norway. His titles are purely ceremonial. The penguin recorded above isn’t even the original penguin who was commissioned and then knighted. Sir Nils is one of at least three penguins who have played the role, probably none of which could exert actual authority over Bouvet Island.
-via Laughing Squid