The "divorce" proceedings have begun between Britain and the rest of Europe.
Britain's ambassador to the European Union (EU), Tim Barrow, this afternoon handed the official letter triggering Article 50 to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, commencing the country's two-year exit process from the trading bloc.
British Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the U.K. Parliament shortly afterwards, telling politicians and the live television audience that the process was underway.
"I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days lie ahead," May added, before emphasizing that the U.K. would seek a path of "sincere cooperation" in its dealings with the EU going forward.
But the prime minister also re-emphasized the primacy of regaining sovereignty and control over immigration as well as not returning to the hard borders of the past in Ireland - all points likely to lead to hard-fought discussions between the sides as exact terms are thrashed out.
The hand-delivered letter also drove home the point that the U.K. intends to approach the exit process in a spirit of cooperation despite the British people's vote to leave the EU.
