QUEEN Elizabeth became the longest reigning monarch in British history yesterday evening.

Having opened the Borders Railway earlier in the day, the Queen resumed her holiday at Balmoral Castle where, at 5.30pm, she surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years, seven months and two days on the throne. Her Majesty did not purr, at least to our knowledge.

Jacobites will no doubt point out that had the claim of James Francis Stewart, the Old Pretender, been fully recognised when his father, King James VII and II, died in 1701 to start a reign that lasted to 1766, the record would be two years further down the line – and who is to say the Stewart dynasty wouldn’t still be going?

The Queen becoming the UK’s longest reigning monarch was not met with universal adoration yesterday. A group of left wingers in Glasgow say the move has goaded them into organising a meeting of Republic, the campaign for a democratic alternative to the monarchy.

RISE activist Alan Ferguson, says tonight’s meeting will be the first of its kind in Glasgow.

He said: “Sitting in that steam locomotive down in the Borders, I doubt many will have been brash enough to tell the Queen her only achievement in this country is being the mascot of inequality, unfathomable wealth and hereditary privilege.”

Ferguson said the referendum had given succour to Scottish republican feeling. “There is a growing will to see a Scotland without a monarchy, as the nation evolves and wakes up to political activism,” he said. “It is not some sort of utopian fantasy to have an elected head of state and this does appeal to so much of the electorate.”

The meeting in a pub in Glasgow tonight, says Ferguson, will be “packed out given the excessive coverage in the media of the Queen’s long reign”.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Green Party candidate for West of Scotland, said public money could be better spent: “Mrs Windsor has served our nations for an exceptionally long time, an achievement by any measure. However, this day should really be used to celebrate the long-serving public sector workers who keep our country running under increasingly difficult circumstances.

“At the moment, public money is being used to fund a bastion of inherited privilege whilst those in the public sector see their pensions eroded and pay frozen. We’d like to thank Mrs Windsor for her service, but we think the money spent to keep her position going should be used instead to help fund a safe and secure retirement for our public sector workers.

“With an elected head of state and a prosperous economy where workers are treated with dignity and respect, the UK could become a world-leading democracy. That would be something worth celebrating.”

COMEDIAN Greg Hemphill tweeted: “The Queen needs to give a urine sample. If it shows her to be on any type of modern medication, stripped of crown like Ben Johnson. #doping.”

The writer Chris Brookmyre tweeted: “The Queen is an inspiring example to our kids.

“Proves how much you can achieve if you dig in, work hard and get born from the right uterus.”

Yesterday, however, was a justifiably historic day for Scotland, bringing as it did the celebration of the re-opening of the rail link to the Borders.

Speaking after her arrival at the Borders Railway’s southern terminus at Tweedbank, the Queen said: “It has been wonderful to witness the excitement which the return of the railway has brought here. The Borders Railway brings so much promise for sharing and invigorating this most beautiful countryside as a place to work, live and enjoy.

“Prince Philip and I are very grateful for the warmth of your welcome on this occasion. 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.

“Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception. But I thank you all and the many others at home and overseas for your touching messages of great kindness.”

She had said her work would continue as normal and she proved that: “So now to the business in hand. It is my very happy duty to declare the Borders Railway open.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and 150 other guests had earlier joined the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on a steam train from Edinburgh to mark the official route opening.

During the journey, the steam locomotive – Union of South Africa – made a stop at Newtongrange for a plaque to be unveiled, before conducting a slow pass through Galashiels to allow the thousands gathered in the town to celebrate the line’s opening.

THE £300 million Borders Railway project, which was constructed on time and on budget, is the longest new domestic railway to be constructed in Britain for more than 100 years.

The First Minister said: “I want to start by acknowledging the milestone which makes this a historic day for many people far beyond the Scottish Borders. Her Majesty today becomes the longest-serving monarch in Scottish and UK history.

“Throughout her reign – supported at all times by the Duke of Edinburgh – she has carried out her duties with dedication, wisdom and an exemplary sense of public service.

“As a result, Her Majesty is admired and held in affection across the Commonwealth and around the world. The reception she has received today demonstrates that that admiration and affection is certainly felt here in Scotland.

“Her affection for Scotland was shared by Queen Victoria, whose memory she respects so much. When Queen Victoria became the longest-serving monarch, she was also in Scotland – staying at Balmoral. So it is fitting that Her Majesty has chosen to mark today’s milestone here. And all of us are delighted to be able to share some of this day with her.

“For those watching from around the world let me say, on their behalf ma’am, a simple but heartfelt thank you.”

Sturgeon said after the Queen had left: “I think it’s a historic occasion. I think the Queen is clearly, as we saw there, very modest herself about it.

“But she has given many, many long years of dedicated public service and the attendance here today was a sign that people want to show their gratitude to her for that. She was in tremendous form. I think she enjoyed the train journey. The most special bit of a very special journey was when the train went through Galashiels station and slowed down and she was able to see some people who had gathered there outside the window.”

Asked if an independent Scotland would keep the monarchy, she replied: “My view – and this was a view expressed during the referendum campaign last year – is that, yes, the Queen, who is Queen of Scots, would remain head of state in an independent Scotland.”

Railway’s boom time is real cause for celebration