IT is a huge achievement and important milestone in the history of the British Monarchy. But the Queen has ruled out any personal celebration when she becomes the longest-reigning British Monarch tomorrow. At about 5:30 p.m. she will have been on the throne for 63 years, seven months and two days, equaling the record held by her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

    Sources close to the Queen say she is determined there be “no fuss” and that it should be “business as usual” out of respect to Victoria and with no suggestion that what is being celebrated is the death of her ancestor.

    “The Queen has no intention of celebrating on the actual day,” said one source. “She would see that as very disrespectful to one of her ancestors.”

    True to form, the 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth will see it as a working day — opening a new railway line in Scotland.

    She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh as she takes a break from her summer holiday at Balmoral to travel to Edinburgh to officially open the Scottish Borders Railway in Edinburgh, where she will board a steam locomotive.

    Royal aides insist that the big celebrations will come next June, when the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday. A senior aide said, “We are not aware of any private plans [to celebrate on Sept. 9], the Queen made it clear she wanted no fuss.”

    She will, however, be surrounded by her family. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are also in Scotland carrying out engagements, while Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will also be visiting their grandmother next month along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are taking Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see their great grandparents.

    Those closest to the Queen say it is likely she will allow herself a moment of quiet reflection to contemplate her amazing achievement. “She’s more likely to go for a walk or a horse ride than throw a party,” a source said. “She has made it perfectly clear to her family that she doesn’t want anything like that. She thinks it would be entirely inappropriate and my feeling is she would be furious if someone does try to plan anything.”

    (SD-Agencies)