Treacherous people, big names covering Queen (6)

I believe the answer is:

vipers

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'treacherous people' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'big names covering queen' is the wordplay.
'big names' becomes 'vips' (I've seen this in another clue).
'covering' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'queen' becomes 'ER' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'vips' enclosing 'er' is 'VIPERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vipers that I've seen before include "21 [SNAKES]" , "Venomous snakes" , "Snakes, perhaps in bosoms" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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