A longtime royal beekeeper, John Chappel, oversees hives at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, where the bees are kept as part of a storied royal tradition. Recent reporting noted the passing of Elizabeth II and the role the bees play in marking transitions within the royal household (Attributed to royal archives).
In keeping with a century-old custom, black ribbons tied into small bows adorn the hives housing the bees. The keeper explained that these signals are meant to acknowledge the change in leadership quietly, while the insects continue their daily work. The message conveyed to the bees is simple: their caretaker has passed, and a new steward will soon take charge, inviting the bees to carry on with their important duties (Attributed to the Royal Beekeeping Society).
The ritual rests on a long-standing belief that bees respond to ownership changes. If the bees are not informed of a new master, they are said to slow down production, abandon the hive, or even perish. Chappel described the practice as a respectful tradition that blends ceremony and care, noting that a hive might be reminded, in a calm, guiding voice, that the new master will treat the bees well and continue to protect them. This approach reflects a broader ethos within the royal beekeeping community about stability, stewardship, and the continuity of care for the creatures that share royal spaces (Attributed to royal beekeeping notes).
Meanwhile, the formal announcements within the royal household continue. In a separate ceremonial development, the Succession Council issued an official proclamation on a recent Saturday, announcing Charles III as the king of the United Kingdom. The line of succession had already shifted in the public mind following the passing of Elizabeth II, and Charles assumed the throne, taking the name Charles III. The transition is observed with both solemn respect and practical updates to royal duties, with beekeeping and other historic practices serving as living links to the past and to the responsibilities that accompany leadership (Attributed to the official royal announcements).