Just in case anyone was wondering, the Royal Bee Keeper did properly inform the Royal Bee Hives of Queen Elizabeth's passing.
According to the Daily Mail, the official Palace Beekeeper notified two hives at Clarence House and five hives at Buckingham Palace that the Queen had died. Mr. Chapple, the Royal Bee Keeper, was said to have whispered to each of them that their old mistress was dead. He also notified them that a new master was in her place. Black mourning ribbons were then affixed to the outside of the bee boxes.
Apparently it is a centuries old tradition to notify a hive when there is an important death in the family. There is a superstitious belief that the bees will leave or stop producing honey if they are not properly informed of a death or change of ownership. Clearly there was no more important death to these bees than the death of their beloved queen.
(Image Credit: John Chapple)