Government House, after massive renovations, is now fit for a Queen -- but not a queen bee.

For after months of work on the official residence of the Governor of Bermuda, the Queen's personal representative on the Island -- Government House is sporting a bright new facelift and is minus a few unwelcome house guests -- bees.

"We got rid of some tenants who were not paying rents,'' joked Governor Thorold Masefield.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott added: "Hundreds of pounds of honey was discovered on the second level. Apparently there were some bees in one of the towers and they came down between the walls. The honey was trapped in the walls but it could not be salvaged because it had turned.'' The two were speaking at a roof-wetting ceremony to christen the new and improved structure.

Instead of climbing on top of the building's soaring roof, the Masefields and Mr. Scott poured some of "Bermuda's best'' over a cake emblazoned with a depiction of Government House.

And they paid tribute to the workers who lavished the historic monument with plenty of TLC.

"We got to know a lot of people from Works and Engineering,'' said Mr.

Masefield. "And we made a lot of good friends.'' And Mr. Masefield told the workers who tolled on the residence: "We are very, very grateful and appreciative of all of your hard work.

"All the visitors to Government House give us many compliments about the House and how much they admire it,'' he added. "And it is all because of you.

"We just wanted you to know the compliments your work is receiving.'' During the year-long renovations -- which saw wires, plumbing and windows replaced -- the Masefields lived at The Cottage in Dockyard.

"Many different departments within Works and Engineering were involved with this, everything from electrical to cold storage,'' said Mr. Scott. "And the project came in on budget.

"I think the men did an excellent job and did it with the minimal fuss and mess. They managed to cut into the walls and do their work without destroying the intricate workings on the walls.

"Working on a historical building like this, I'm sure the pressure was on the men, but they delivered. I'm very proud of the men.'' But according to worker Mansfield `Woody' Brangman, the historical significance of the building did not rattle their nerves.

"No, I didn't really feel any added pressure,'' he said. "When you are working on an old building you just know to expect the unexpected.

"Every day, you just never knew what you were going to run into, but it's all part of working on an old building.'' Government House was built in the Italian style of stone imported from France.

It was completed in 1892.