He didn't say bees recognize royalty! He said 'bees were made to recognize royalty'. (or something like that-the point is he implied intentionality). Right after he finished explaining that earth has been terraformed specifically for the purposes of the royal family! Why would't they seed it with various species that are engineered to detect their genetics and make them seen like Gods? The internet have me the impression it was just 'bees have queens! Magic!' But no they explained it in the frame of already established advanced science! So great. So classic hard SF. And, like you said, in a way that emphasizes right when they needed it JUST how much was really out there.