The Royal Bees at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace Were Informed of the Death of Queen Elizabeth II, Their Former Mistress, and That Their New Master Is King Charles III

I wrote in my book about the tradition of telling the bees important family news and notifying them of deaths. The English have long shared their joys and sorrows with their bees, and at moments of family bereavement the hives, too, are dressed in mourning. If the little bee houses are not draped in black, it may cause the bee family irreparable offence, bringing resentment, a loss of honey and even their departure.

So in these days a black mourning ribbon has appeared on every one of the English queen's beehives. The beekeeper approached each of the royal hives and said: "Your mistress is dead, but do not go away. Your new master will be a good master to you."

It was so in Kipling too:

"The bees began to hum, the golden bees:
Why does our beekeeper walk about so glum?
If he does not tell us what is the matter with him,
We shall give no more honey for sale.
…
Whenever a christening or a wake
Takes place in the village,
The old woman, in the old way,
Will whisper of it to the bee."

Literal translation