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After navigating the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the bill was given royal assent by the Queen shortly before 11am this morning - the last hurdle before the European Union exit begins. The Prime Minister now has the ability to trigger Article 50, which she is expected to do during the last week of this month. Theresa May is expected to hold off on triggering it next week as it would clash with an informal summit of EU leaders - to which she is not invited.

Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow told MPs that the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which was passed by MPs and peers on Monday, had received its final sign off. This announcement prompted cheers from the Conservative benches - with a more mixed response from the opposition.

GETTY The Queen has officially signed the Article 50 Brexit bill into law

Mr Bercow said: "I have to notify the House in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967 that Her Majesty has signified her royal assent to the following acts: Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2017, European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017." READ MORE: What is the Brexit plan?

All the pictures from Brexit Bill Tuesday Tue, March 7, 2017 Theresa May is facing a second defeat on her Brexit bill Tuesday as the House of Lords votes on another change which would give parliament the final say on leaving the EU Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 20 Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, speaks in the House of Lords Chamber at the start of the third day of The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

Mrs May has said she will invoke Article 50, the legal mechanism for withdrawal from the EU, by the end of the month in what will be a "defining moment" for the country. Two years of negotiations with the European Union will follow, during which Britain and Brussels will attempt to negotiate a Brexit exit deal. READ MORE: What is the Brexit White Paper?

NC John Bercow announcing the Brexit bill had been given Royal Assent

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis said the country would rather leave the bloc without negotiating any deal rather than accept a bad one. He said the prospect was "not as frightening as some people think".

GETTY The Queen has fired the starting gun on Britain's EU divorce