The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, marked World Bee Day by sharing an incredible photo of herself on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account. The photo saw the Princess wearing a full beekeeping suit with a protective hat veil and Wellington boots while tending to a hive. The Princess looked busy at work with a big smile on her face. The caption on the post read: “We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay. Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.” Her fans on social media quickly dubbed her the new “Queen Bee” and praised her seemingly endless list of talents.
World Bee Day and the Royal Family
World Bee Day aims to raise awareness of the threats faced by bees and the contribution they make to sustainable development. The royal family has a long history of beekeeping, with four beehives based in the garden of Buckingham Palace on the island in the middle of the lake and two beehives in the garden of Clarence House. The bees in both royal residences forage for nectar from the plants in their gardens and produce over 300 jars of honey for the palaces’ kitchens over the season, enough to make them self-sufficient.
Queen Camilla: The Hands-On Beekeeper
In 2020, Queen Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, became president of the charity Bees For Development, which aims to reduce poverty and improve biodiversity in more than 50 countries through training beekeepers. Camilla is also a keen apiarist and keeps bees at Raymill, her six-bedroom retreat in Lacock, Wiltshire, 17 miles from the King’s Highgrove home. During a visit to Launceston, Cornwall, last summer, Camilla met honey producers selling jars in the town square and told them she was a hands-on beekeeper and had only lost one colony during the previous winter. Honey produced by Camilla’s bees is sold at Fortnum & Mason to raise funds for charity.
The Royal Family’s Efforts to Protect Bee Habitats
Queen Camilla is also the president of Bees for Development, a charity training beekeepers and protecting bee habitats in more than 50 countries. This year’s recipient of funds raised from the sale of honey produced by Camilla’s bees is Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral centre, which the Queen supports as patron.
The Royal Family has been actively involved in beekeeping and efforts to protect bee habitats. World Bee Day provides a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla’s passion for beekeeping and efforts to protect bees and their habitats have been commendable.
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