A bus drives past the Bank of England after the British government triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, in London, Britain on March 29, 2017. The Britain on Wednesday officially started the historic process to leave the European Union (EU) as the letter signed by Prime Minister Theresa May is sent to leaders of the bloc. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland)
Wednesday will be remembered as the starting point for Brexit, when the decision by more than 17 million British people to leave the European Union (EU) became a reality.
London and Brussels became the focal points in a day of high political drama on the English Channel of both sides.
NO TURNING BACK
On Wednesday afternoon, in the Brussels headquarters of the European Union, British Ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow handed a letter to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council.
The 6-page letter, signed by British Prime Minister Theresa May, officially kick-started a two-year period of negotiations for a new working relationship between London and Brussels.
"That decision was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans," the letter reads. "The UK wants the EU to succeed and prosper."
Minutes later, 320-km away in the British Houses of Parliament, May stood up in a packed House of Commons to announce that Brexit had been triggered.
It is "an historic moment from which there can be no turning back," May, in a black suit, said in a resolute voice. "We will be after a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU."
The historic move came 44 years after Britain first joined the EU, and just nine months after a national referendum in Britain in which 52 percent of voters chose Brexit.
May told the MPs that Britain aims to deliver a smooth and orderly Brexit. Aware of the way the country has been left divided by Brexit, May made a plea to the British people to unite.
One commentator remarked: "If the result of the referendum was an earthquake, the triggering of article 50 was an aftershock."
Scotland voted remain, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish Nationalist Party demanding a new independence referendum. On Tuesday, the Scottish parliament voted for a second independence referendum for Scotland.
Northern Ireland also wanted to remain in the EU and the result has left a question mark over the future border with the Irish Republic.
Londoners voted remain along with a number of major English cities, but the majority of voters in England backed leaving.
May in her speech vowed to represent "every person in the whole United Kingdom."
JOY, SADNESS
It is a day of celebration for some and disappointment for others.
President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has said he is "deeply sad" at Britain beginning the process of its departure from the EU.
Tusk, who received May's letter, said in Brussels: "We already miss the UK."
