I don’t want to add more buzz to the hive mind that drones on about the latest Queen news, as I’m not one to comb the latest swarm of stories, make a beeline for news of the crown, or wax poetic about the monarchy, and my natural inclination is to mind my own beeswax when it comes to the royal brood. But I did find myself intrigued by this story buzzing around the apiary. It turns out that when something big happens, there’s a longstanding custom of sharing the news with the bees. And no, I’m not pollen your leg. Maybe it makes sense. The bees represent the last colony the Brits managed to hold on to. “The tradition holds that bees, as members of the family, should be informed of major life events in the family, especially births and deaths. Beekeepers would knock on each hive, deliver the news and possibly cover the hive with a black cloth during a mourning period. The practice is more commonly known in Britain but is also found in the United States and other parts of Europe.” NYT (Gift Article): When the Queen Died, Someone Had to Tell the Bees. Thankfully, they mixed in a little honey with the bitter news.

+ Want to view the Queen’s coffin? The line is currently 2.6 miles and growing.