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Brexit in pictures: The UK leaves the EU

Pro and anti-Brexit demonstrations and marches have been held across the country, as the UK counted down to leaving the European Union.

The UK officially left the EU at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership.

A projection on to No 10 Downing Street marks the moment the UK left the European Union

AFP Downing Street at exactly 23:00 GMT on Friday 31 January — A projection on to No 10 Downing Street marks the moment the UK left the European Union

People cheer Britain's exit from the EU as the clock chimes 23:00 GMT in Warrington

AFP Brexit supporters wave Union flags as the time passes 11 O"Clock at a Brexit Celebration party at Woolston Social Club in Warrington, north west England — People cheer Britain's exit from the EU as the clock chimes 23:00 GMT in Warrington

Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square, Westminster

Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster, London, ahead of the UK leaving the European Union at 11pm on Friday. — Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square, Westminster

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage celebrates Britain's departure from the EU in Parliament Square

AFP Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks delighted as Britain leaves the EU — Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage celebrates Britain's departure from the EU in Parliament Square

A pro-Brexit supporter climbs the plinth of Winston Churchill's statue on Parliament Square

Getty Images Pro-Brexit supports celebrate at Westminster — A pro-Brexit supporter climbs the plinth of Winston Churchill's statue on Parliament Square

In Brussels, the UK flag is removed from the European Council building

Getty Images The UK flag is removed from the European Council building in Brussels. — In Brussels, the UK flag is removed from the European Council building

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London is lit up in the colours of the union flag

PA Wire The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also lit up in red, white and blue. — The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London is lit up in the colours of the union flag

The flag is taken down and folded up outside the European Parliament building in Brussels

Getty Images The UK flag is taken down and folded up outside the European Parliament building in Brussels. — The flag is taken down and folded up outside the European Parliament building in Brussels

Brexiteers head towards Parliament Square in London

Henry Nicholls / REUTERS/ People celebrate Britain leaving the EU on Brexit day in London. — Brexiteers head towards Parliament Square in London

Crowds gather early on Friday in Parliament Square ahead of the Brexit celebrations

Dominic Lipinski / PA Media Brexiteers in Parliament Square, London, ahead of the UK leaving the European Union at 11pm on Friday. — Crowds gather early on Friday in Parliament Square ahead of the Brexit celebrations

Pro-Brexit supporters wearing union flag-themed clothes pose for a photograph

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images Pro-Brexit supporters don Union Jack-themed clothes pose for a photograph in Parliament Square, the venue for the Leave Means Leave Brexit Celebration. — Pro-Brexit supporters wearing union flag-themed clothes pose for a photograph

Supporters of the EU hold a procession through Whitehall to "bid a fond farewell" to the union

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Pro-EU activists protest at Parliament Square as people prepare for Brexit on 31 January 2020 in London, United Kingdom. — Supporters of the EU hold a procession through Whitehall to "bid a fond farewell" to the union

A pro-EU activist wearing a cape decorated with an EU flag design joins a rally organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London

ISABEL INFANTES / AFP A pro-EU activist wearing a cape decorated with an EU flag design joins a rally organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London on 31 January ,2020 — A pro-EU activist wearing a cape decorated with an EU flag design joins a rally organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London

A pro-EU message is projected onto the cliffs in Ramsgate, Kent.

Ben STANSALL / AFP A pro-EU message is projected onto the cliffs in Ramsgate, southern England — A pro-EU message is projected onto the cliffs in Ramsgate, Kent.

St Andrew's House, a Scottish Government building, in Edinburgh, is illuminated in the colours of the European flag

PA Wire St Andrew's House, a Scottish Government building in Edinburgh, is illuminated in the colours of the European flag. — St Andrew's House, a Scottish Government building, in Edinburgh, is illuminated in the colours of the European flag

Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire

Danny Lawson / pa Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day ahead of the UK leaving the European Union at 11pm this evening. — Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire

The prime minister holds a cabinet meeting at the National Glass Centre, a museum and arts centre in Sunderland, the city that was the first to back Brexit when results were announced after the 2016 referendum

PAUL ELLIS / AFP Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C) chairs a cabinet meeting at the National Glass Centre at the University of Sunderland, in Sunderland, northeast England on 31 January 2020. — The prime minister holds a cabinet meeting at the National Glass Centre, a museum and arts centre in Sunderland, the city that was the first to back Brexit when results were announced after the 2016 referendum

All photos subject to copyright.

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