Melania Trump recently unveiled a new beehive on the White House South Lawn.
Melania Trump Added Bees to the White House Just Before King Charles Arrived and Nobody Thinks It Is a Coincidence
First Lady Melania Trump announced the expansion of the White House honey program on Friday, April 24 with the introduction of two new bee colonies on the South Lawn.
The timing has about whether the announcement was timed to coincide with King Charles III and Queen Camilla's four-day visit to Washington.
“The new hive is expected to increase annual honey production by an estimated 30 pounds,” the official White House website stated, stressing that the honey would be used in "White House culinary dishes, serving as official gifts from the President and the First Lady, and supporting charitable donations of healthy foods to local food kitchens."
Mrs. Trump's beehive is a small replica of the White House. It's made by a local craftsman and it houses two bee colonies.
Melania Trump's beehive program expands the existing honey program started in 2009.
The White House has had two beehives
Since 2009, when the program was launched under the Obama administration, the White House has maintained beehives on the South Lawn. Bees pollinate the gardens at the National Mall and the White House, and chefs use the honey in teas, dressings and desserts.
The initiative began after White House carpenter Charlie Brandt took up beekeeping on the premises as a personal interest, according to TMZ. It began as a modest initiative and evolved into a beloved custom on the South Grounds.
Beekeeping at the White House received increased attention when former First Lady Michelle Obama used honey from the hives in recipes and official functions. These two new colonies will house around 70,000 bees in peak summer and together produce between 200 and 225 pounds of honey each year.
The financial support for the new hive resembling the White House came from the Trust for the National Mall, with its design and foundation created by White House residence personnel and handcrafted by a Virginia artisan, as reported by the Independent.
King Charles is known for his own interest in environmental stewardship and gardening.
Is Melania Trump using beehives to rescue US-UK relationship?
The timing of the expansion has drawn attention given the concurrent state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The king and queen are also set to attend a White House state dinner on Tuesday which will be conducted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The visit honors 250 years of American independence and the UK-US special relationship.
According to the Irish Star, King Charles and Camilla are strong advocates of beekeeping. The king reportedly keeps at least three beehives at Highgrove House, his private residence in Gloucestershire, England, to demonstrate his commitment to the environment and sustainability. Not just the King, the queen is a fan of bees as well.
Queen Camilla's support for Bees for Development, a charity promoting the role of bees in global sustainable development, further underscores the significance of the timing of Melania Trump's announcement.