Queen Elizabeth formally signs off on initiating Brexit

Queen Elizabeth II assents to the Brexit

(Image credit: Ben Stanstall - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

published 16 March 2017

On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal assent to Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which cleared Parliament on Monday night, allowing May to invoke Article 50 of the European Union charter and begin negotiating Britain's exit from the EU. The queen's assent was the final hurdle for May, who says she will trigger the Brexit by the end of the month.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.