The Daily Mail quotes British writer George Mikes: “An Englishman, even if alone, will form an orderly queue of one person.” Right or wrong, “we Brits are known around the world for our queues”, observe the popular newspaper as tens of thousands of people line the streets of London in an onion row to see the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, displayed in Westminster Hall.
“We have remained citizens who obediently and even enthusiastically line up. […] When the Brits spot one, they can’t help but join it.” continues the columnist, who nevertheless notes “a paradox” : “The Queen has been involved in all sorts of activities during her long and eventful life, but she has never been allowed to stand in line.”
“As arrivals went by, the queue that winds along the south bank of the Thames has