Over a Million “Royal Bees” Were Informed of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing

Photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, June 17, 2006 (Photo: anizza/DepositPhotos)

After Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, the Operation London Bridge plan was put into motion. This described who should be informed about her death and in what order. While this mostly pertains to politicians and the press, there is another important exchange that takes place. According to a tradition called “telling the bees,” after the monarch dies, the official Palace beekeeper must visit the royal bees kept at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House and inform them of their master's passing.

This responsibility fell upon 79-year-old John Chapple, who has been the royal beekeeper for 15 years. When he received the news of the Queen's death, he journeyed to Buckingham Palace and Clarence House and tied black ribbons around each of the hives. Then, he knocked on the hives and said, “The mistress is dead, but don't you go. Your master will be a good master to you.” Afterward, he explained that King Charles III was their master, speaking always in a soft hush so as to not disturb the bees.

While it may seem like a strange custom to deliver the news to bees, it is actually an age-old tradition. It is believed that if the bees are not informed of their master's death, they will stop producing honey. However, this superstition is not limited to the British royal family. Its roots have actually been traced to Celtic mythology, where bees were viewed as messengers between the living and spirit world. Furthermore, the practice of “telling the bees” that there is a change in the household is practiced in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Germany, and has even been recorded in the United States.