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The British hate standing in queues as much as anyone else, but they are known for their skill at forming perfectly orderly queues, their delight at seeing one and their tutting and sighing when someone is trying to cut the line.

This week their skill is put into good practice as they are standing in the ultimate queue. It has already been dubbed The Queue or the Elizabeth Line. Brits are standing in it to get the chance to pay respects to their late monarch Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state in the Palace of Westminster before her funeral.

At the time of writing this article, The Queue was about 5 miles long before it got paused. Before being paused, the tracker estimated that people would have to wait for 14 hours to be able to get inside the Palace where the coffin is. It’s quite crazy, but that doesn’t stop devoted and mourning Brits from joining The Queue. Or coming to just look at it and admire it. 

People online were quick to mock the hilarity and absurdity of it, but also the beauty and the Britishness of it. Apparently, there is nothing more quintessential for a Brit than standing in a queue and the world is proud of them, but it needs to pull their leg as well.

Image credits: Julian Calder

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Potty pagan panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She’s with her family now which should be some comfort to those paying their respects

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Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8th at the age of 96 and after ruling the country for 70 years, which made her the longest reigning monarch in the UK’s history.

The Queen’s coffin that is made of oak on the outside and lead on the inside was carried by 8 Royal Air Force members who put in the coffin covered with the royal flag in a catafalque. It was taken to the official royal residency in Scotland, which is the Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

On Monday, September 12, it was taken to the St. Giles’ Cathedral where people could wish the Queen a peaceful rest. It is estimated that 33,000 people went past her in the 24 hours that she was at the St. Giles' Cathedral.

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DennyS (denzoren)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was about to say this is really such a British thing to do. Here where I live people would be coming in from all those side streets trying to cut into the line. Not to mention the huge crowd pushing at the front.

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The Queen’s coffin continued its journey and on Tuesday, it was taken by a military C-17 Globemaster to London and carried into Buckingham Palace. On Wednesday, it was carried to its last stop before the funeral, which is the oldest building on the Parliamentary estate, Westminster Hall.

This is the place where the rest of the Brits can come and pay their respects to Elizabeth II. People started filing to enter Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon to get a chance to pass the Queen’s coffin. It is expected that 750,000 people will come to view the coffin until the lying in state’s end on Monday before the funeral, which is planned at 11:00 BST.

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Katy McMouse
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When they shut this down for the funeral, just like on Everest, they're gonna find the abandoned bodies of those who just couldn't go on.

To enter the Westminster Hall, people started lining up and started the most epic queue the world has ever seen as it is formed by the British, who are notorious for it, and also because they are standing in it to see their beloved Queen, who doesn’t even need to be named because everyone in the world thinks of her when you say the title.

The Queue goes along the river Thames and stretches all the way to London Bridge, The Tower Bridge and beyond. It is so long that the UK government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched an official Queue Tracker available on YouTube which gives live updates about the growing line, where the endpoint is and what the estimated waiting time is.

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Trust me, click on the little curiousiguana link at the bottom left and scroll up to read this full thread. One of THE best things I've ever read online!

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Not only that, but in true British fashion, the government issued a guide to The Queue. It includes things like how to get to London, how to get to and join The Queue, what will be its route. There are rules of what you can and cannot bring, they warn about being prepared for the weather and that people will be searched. 

People who are queuing are being given wristbands to indicate their location in The Queue so they can go get food and use the bathroom. Various cafes and other businesses are extending their working hours to cater for the people in the line and local venues and museums are open all day and night so people can use their facilities. In addition to that, there are more than 500 portable toilets at various points along The Queue’s route. 

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ItsJess
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My anxiety would never let me leave The Queue once I got on it. I know people have wristbands and such, but my brain would think, "what if there's a mistake? What if they just don't let me back? I'm not taking any chances" which basically sums up my whole life

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John G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wondering how many "I met my partner in the queue" stories there will be.

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DennyS (denzoren)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Paddington wouldn't be so bad as an Overlord, apart from the marmalade but I feel like I can live with that.

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It is fascinating to see so many people united and so dedicated to standing in The Queue as they may need to remain in it overnight, during the colder hours of the day, to withstand the rain and the wind. It’s all because they felt grateful for the Queen’s service to their nation and now it’s their last chance to give her the last wave.

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The people are coming to terms with the fact that they have a new king and are getting through their grief, which is evident from the memes and reactions online. They were joking about how long The Queue is, about how it's a pure reflection of what the UK is all about and that even if you aren't a supporter of the monarchy, it's worth coming there just to look at the beautiful view of people standing one behind another.

Which reactions did you like the most? Have you seen The Queue in real life? What do you think about it? Do you think the world is making a bigger deal of Queen Elizabeth’s death than it should? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Fred L.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two Bonds in the picture, as Moneypenny was played by Samantha Bond (pre-Downton Abbbey of course).

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Andi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is that from, the Wicker Man ... now that is British weirdness at its best

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DennyS (denzoren)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine getting there, seeing the end of the queue so far away and still deciding to join....I can't comprehend that.

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Eleanor Green
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is getting better, the further I go down this list. We'll done!

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Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.