One of the most arcane rituals surrounding the September death of Queen Elizabeth II, and one of the most affecting in its homeliness, was the royal beekeeper’s visit to the royal bees, to tell them of their mistress’s passing. “Telling the bees,” as this New York Times article informs us, “is a standard practice that goes back centuries, with potentially grave consequences if not followed . . . bees, as members of the family, should be informed of major life events in the family, especially births and deaths.”