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What record? It's another day at work then home for tea: ROBERT HARDMAN watches our unstoppable Queen make history with a minimum of fuss

Published: 17:41 EST, 9 September 2015 | Updated: 18:38 EST, 9 September 2015

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‘No fuss, please,’ the regal record-breaker had asked ahead of her big day. Some chance.

Yesterday, those words fell on deaf ears, not that you could hear much anyway above the din of well-wishers, bagpipes and a pre-war steam locomotive.

History will record that on the day Elizabeth II overtook Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history, she was opening the new Borders Railway line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

Don't forget who's the real Queen of Scots: Her Majesty chats with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as Prince Philip enjoys the view from the carriage on their steam train

But the fuss extended far beyond the bunting and bands lining yesterday’s route through Midlothian and the stunning Borders country beyond.

In London, parliamentary business was suspended to make way for loyal eulogies from both sides of the House of Commons.

A celebratory flotilla honked its way up the Thames. Outside Buckingham Palace, television crews from across the planet were busy broadcasting the news that Elizabeth had finally toppled her great-great grandmother from the tallest pedestal in the pantheon of royal greats.

Or, as the Queen herself preferred to put it, with majestic understatement on a breezy dais outside Galashiels: ‘A long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.’

Without actually mentioning Queen Victoria, she did acknowledge that the day was about more than a new railway (among the giveaways was the three-storey international television studio erected in this small, provincial station car park).

Royal anoraks may also have spotted another clue – Her Majesty’s decision to wear Victoria’s bow brooch with her Karl Ludwig turquoise and indigo ensemble.

Touching tribute: The Queen wore Victoria's bow brooch on her coat

Thanking the cheering, flag-waving crowd and her host, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, for their ‘touching messages of great kindness’, the Queen observed: ‘Many, including you, First Minister, have also kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired.’

Miss Sturgeon rose to the occasion with a warm and generous speech. Though no fan of the monarchy nor the Union, she affectionately saluted the figure who proudly represents both, applauding the Queen’s ‘dedication, wisdom and an exemplary sense of public service’.

The First Minister, who has also been a recent house guest at Balmoral, had more to say: ‘All of us are delighted to be able to share some of this special day with you. For those watching from around the world let me say, on their behalf, Ma’am, a simple but heartfelt thank you.’

To appreciate the difference between these two great monarchs and the times in which they lived, one need only look at their respective itineraries.

When, in 1896, Victoria beat her own grandfather, George III, to become longest-reigning monarch, she spent the day at Balmoral entertaining the new Tsar and Tsarina of Russia.

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh spent their day with Miss Sturgeon, rail staff, assorted council worthies and Madge Elliott. Mrs Elliott, 86, has been campaigning to reopen this railway line since 1968 when it was axed following Dr Beeching’s notorious reforms.

She has even received an MBE from the Queen for her troubles and was euphoric that they should both be celebrating these twin triumphs together. ‘It’s just wonderful. I don’t know what to say,’ she told me after enjoying a chat with the Queen.

No one, not even the curators at the Royal Archives, could pinpoint the precise moment when the Queen actually surpassed Victoria yesterday.

Splendour: The Gloriana barge, built for the Diamond Jubilee, leads a flotilla past the Houses of Parliament

That Victoria reigned for 23,226 days was not in question. But the hour? We don’t know, because no one knows exactly when George VI died in the early hours of February 6, 1952.

Historians had used best estimates to calculate that the record was broken at 5.30pm yesterday afternoon and Buckingham Palace officials were happy to go along with that.

If it meant that yesterday’s festivities were a little premature (the Queen was having tea back at Balmoral by then), no one was clock-watching. After a reign spanning more than half a million hours, we could all be a little flexible.

Besides, this was a big moment for this corner of Scotland. The opening of Britain’s longest domestic railway line in a century, an immaculate £300million, 30-mile route from the Scottish capital to the heart of the rugby-mad Borders, was an important national transport moment, even if it was somewhat eclipsed by the day’s other milestone.

There were plenty of trainspotters in among the flag-waving royalists who had gathered at Edinburgh’s Waverley station to send the Queen on her way.

LOVE AND ADMIRATION FROM HER PROUD FAMILY

The Queen’s family led tributes to her remarkable life and reign, the most glowing from the woman whom many once thought could bring down the monarchy – the Duchess of Cornwall.

On a visit to the ITV studios in London, Camilla told newsreader Alastair Stewart: ‘Oh it’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe it’s as long as Queen Victoria... such a big person in history, you know, to beat that and with such style.’

She also spoke warmly about her mother-in-law to fellow presenter Eamonn Holmes, who said afterwards: ‘Camilla told me she thought it was a great day for the Queen, a marvellous day.’

Sources said the Queen had made clear to Prince Charles that, aside from off-the-cuff comments, she did not want any public tributes from her family.

Sources said the Queen had made clear to Prince Charles that, aside from off-the-cuff comments, she did not want any public tributes from her family

The Queen’s family led tributes to her remarkable life and reign, the most glowing from the woman whom many once thought could bring down the monarchy – the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured)

Charles remained silent on his mother’s remarkable achievement but there was surprise in some quarters that he had not been given the opportunity to pay public tribute.

However, the prince, who was at Dumfries House in Scotland undertaking a series of private engagements, is quietly involved in working on celebrations for his mother’s 90th birthday next year.

Prince Andrew paid tribute in private to his mother, describing the secret to her success.

It was, he told a business event, ‘very simple – consistency and sound leadership’. For her, it was not a special day but ‘business as usual’ he added.

Last night the Queen dined privately at Balmoral with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are on holiday in Scotland.

The new line follows much of the path of the old Waverley line, so-named after the Waverley novels of the great Scottish novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott. The Queen, the Duke and Miss Sturgeon (in salmon pink) were steered to the first carriage, a cream and beige Pullman restaurant car pulled by the steam locomotive, Union of South Africa.

This splendid specimen first entered service in 1937 – the year the Queen’s father was crowned. Yet more historic echoes.

But Miss Sturgeon and her ministers were keen to keep the focus on the present, to trumpet all the regeneration driven by the new railway (the usual, modern rolling stock may lack charm but it’s twice as fast as yesterday’s royal rattler).

As they chugged out of Edinburgh, the Queen’s attention was drawn to the exciting new Zero Waste facility at Millerhill and the vast new town going up alongside the track at Shawfair. The royal train made one stop on the route. At Newtongrange, Miss Sturgeon invited the Queen to disembark and unveil a plaque just below Scotland’s Museum of Mining.

From then on, the landscape changed dramatically. The Queen was in glorious open countryside, steaming past Borthwick Castle, the grand old keep from which Mary, Queen of Scots escaped in 1567, disguised as a page boy.

Her young subjects: Hannah Walton, five, wore a tiara as she waited at Tweedbank ahead of the arrival of the Queen

Ashford Gardiner, one, brought her dummy for the occasion while others made their own crowns and waved flags

The royal train chugged on south. Up in the cab, fast and furious shovelling was required to maintain momentum on the climb up to the highest point on this line, 883ft above sea level.

The Queen’s hosts were keen to rotate her travelling companions and Miss Sturgeon withdrew to allow other guests in to the royal carriage. Former railway worker, Walter Bell, 88, was among those who took over as a tour guide.

At Galashiels, the train slowed to allow hundreds of children a glimpse of the Queen – and a royal wave in return. From here, it was just a short stretch to the end of the line at Tweedbank. There was no such place when the Queen came to the Throne. It is the made-up name for a housing estate and industrial units on the edge of Galashiels.

A guard of honour from the Royal Company of Archers stood to attention. The Queen paused for a chat with a familiar face. The senior officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Malcolm Ross, was her retired Comptroller (master of ceremonies) from Buckingham Palace. The two had been through many state occasions, royal weddings and funerals together. None, surely, quite like this.

For a tiny place with few residents, Tweedbank was heaving. Well over a thousand people waved flags and sang the National Anthem. So, too, it should be noted, did Miss Sturgeon, clearly uttering every word. She also joined in enthusiastically with a rousing three cheers .

Diehard class warriors aside, the only people who may have been less than thrilled by these scenes were possibly the publishers of Guinness World Records. Their 2016 edition was unveiled yesterday. Its royal section is now out of date.