A retired Navy soldier, a young royalist, a CEO, and a holidaymaker from Canada stand in a line for nearly 15 hours. It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke, but this morning, it's become the biggest thing in London.
Snaking its way through London, the five mile queue - nicknamed the 'Elizabeth Line', of course , stretches from Southwark Park in Bermondsey to Westminster Hall. At the time of writing this, more than 10,00 people were watching a livestream of mourners flocking into the hall, which is open 24 hours a day, to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state.
Naturally, it has been described as a 'triumph of Britishness', as well-wishers endure sleet, rain, sunshine, wind and thunderstorms while in their anoraks, with no camping chairs or tents allowed.
Many have speculated it will become a Richard Curtis film in a few years. One person joked: ""QUEUE'VE GOT MAIL" (2023, Richard Curtis). A mis-matched couple stand next to each other in The Queue. They dislike each other but coincidentally match on a dating app. Hi jinks ensue. Starring Keira Knightly and Timothee Chalamet"
Another wrote: "The Queue (2024) - Dir Richard Curtis: Mildly eccentric middle class couple (Hugh Bonneville, Olivia Coleman) spend 36 hours snaking through London while stressed King Charles (Hugh Grant) overcomes fountain pens and other slapstick obstacles to start his reign. Gently warming comedy."
A third added: "Oh god there’s going to be a twee Richard Curtis film about The Queue isn’t there. Lily James will fall in love with a plucky steward played by whichever non-threatening 20-something male actor happens to be free and IT WILL BE AWFUL."
But what it is like to stand in queue for nine hours? Here we've taken a look at how those hardy Brits are holding up as they join the world's longest queue (probably).
Queue to join the Queue
As of 9.55am, the queue to see the Queen lying in state was paused for "at least” six hours after Southwark Park reached capacity, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DMCS) said.
Of course, this hasn't put off mourners unable to join the 14-hour line, who have set up a queue by the queue. Queueception!
Sadly the timings on how long the queue are aren't quite accurate, as a government spokeswoman confirmed, explaining that the distance measured was “as the crow flies” and didn’t include the zigzag section by the hall.
Dog smugglers
Her Majesty famously adored her corgis - and owned more than 30 of the dogs in her lifetime.
So it only seems fitting that several people have been caught trying to smuggle their dog into Westminster Hall as they pay their respects.
Officials have stopped six people so far trying to sneak their pooches in.
Animals and pets are not allowed into the vigil, but according to witnesses, the rules haven't stopped some mourners attempting to 'smuggle' their beloved dogs in under their coats.
"Parliamentary source says officials have stopped six people trying to smuggle their pet dogs into Westminster Hall under their coats for the Queen's lying in state," Jason Groves, political editor at the Daily Mail, wrote on Twitter.
But guide dogs, hearing dogs and official assistance dogs are permitted inside the Palace - with one person on Twitter catching the moment just before a guide dog bowed to the coffin alongside his owner.
Free pizza
Mourners lining the streets to see the Queen's coffin were sent pizza by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Rev Justin Welby and his charity Feeding Britain sent boxes full of pizza and hot drinks to the crowds.
One woman told Sky News: "We had the Archbishop’s charity bring down some pizza. We also had hot drinks."
Scouts
Hundreds of scouts are among more than 1,000 volunteers helping with the queues in Westminster.
The UK chief commissioner of the Scouts said the mood among the crowds waiting to pay their respects was “friendly and poignant”.
Carl Hankinson, who is among volunteers to monitor the queue throughout Victoria Gardens, said Scouts had been “on their feet 12 hours” a day to help ensure the smooth running of admissions.
The Scout, who once met the Queen at a garden party, said: “She was fantastic in every way – she was interested in Scouts, she was conversational, very encouraging and very supportive of young people.”
Mr Hankinson said: "(The crowd atmosphere) is poignant, very quiet and respectful – some people are tired, of course, but, generally, a great atmosphere.”
They are also collecting unopened food mourners leave at the entrance of the hall, which is either being redistributed through the queue or sent to a local foodbank.
Queue tracker
More than 1.7million people have gone online to view the Government's live queue tracker on YouTube which shows the end of the line.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched a live stream yesterday afternoon as the first mourners were allowed to enter at 5pm.
The video features a live map with the queue route marked in purple, alongside information on the length of the queue in miles and the nearest London landmark to the back.
Fainting
A soldier guarding the coffin fainted during his stint. Yesterday one mourner was seen falling as he walked down the stairs of historic Westminster Hall towards the Queen's coffin.
There were gasps from mourners as he fell to the ground which was caught in a video.
It happened as a set of guards were beginning to swap duties and one appeared to be trembling before seconds later falling.
Two police officers could be seen racing over to pick him up before the video cut out and then went to images of the Houses of Parliament.
Shocked viewers also took to social media with one tweeting: "He must've been so overwhelmed with what was happening."
Another said: "Bless him - just happened to tune in; saw he was a bit wobbly and feared he'd faint. Hope he's ok."
Meanwhile, several mourners have been understandably very emotional - as editor Zoe Forsey recounts in her emotional piece from visiting the hall yesterday.
Celebs - they're just like us!
Meanwhie Susanna Reid queued for more than seven hours on Her Majesty's coffin's first day being on public view on Thursday.
The Good Morning Britain Host, 51, described the 'historic' moment as 'majestic and peaceful' as she revealed she had joined mourners with her mother Sue to pay respect .
She wrote: "Evening - along with my lovely mum and her very good friend, I have just experienced a moment in history - witnessing the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. At once majestic and peaceful.'
Susanna said she had waited for more than seven hours to see Her Majesty's coffin as she offered advice to others wanting to pay their respects.
She continued: "If you are planning to queue here are our tips. We joined at 1.23pm near Butlers Wharf and entered Westminster Hall at 8.43pm - 7 hours 20 mins.
"Wear the comfiest shoes you own. Go with someone if you can, although everyone in the queue was friendly."
You can now buy Friday's historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative
