The UK flag has been removed from its pole outside the European Parliament in Brussels.
Three officials took down the Union flag at exactly 8pm, watched by crowds of journalists and British expats.
Several former assistants to the UK’s MEPs also attended, sporting their commemorative UK/EU scarves.
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There was a small cheer as the lowering mechanism got briefly stuck, with one onlooker joking: “It means you have to remain.”
Once the flag was eventually unhooked and folded up, it was quickly replaced by the EU flag.
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A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty Images
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
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The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
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EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
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Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
AFP via Getty Images
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A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
AP
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
PA
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Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
PA
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
AP
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Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
EPA
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Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
REUTERS
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A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
PA
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Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
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A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
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Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
AP
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Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
EPA
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Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
Getty
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A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
Reuters
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
Reuters
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AFP via Getty
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A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
Reuters
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
Reuters
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Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
Getty Images
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Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
PA
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AP
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Getty Images
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Getty Images
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Pro-EU activists protest
Getty Images
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A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
AP
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Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
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Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
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A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
AP
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A man carries an EU themed wreath
Reuters
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Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
PA
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
PA
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Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
Getty
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British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
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Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
Reuters
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Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
AP
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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French newspapers
PA
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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
PA
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National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
AP
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
Reuters
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A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
Reuters
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People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
Getty
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A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
Reuters
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A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
Reuters
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British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
Reuters
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Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
EPA
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A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
Sky News/AFP via Getty
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Getty Images
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty Images
4/66
Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
5/66
Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
REUTERS
6/66
The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
PA
7/66
Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
PA
9/66
EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
EPA
10/66
A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
11/66
Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
AFP via Getty Images
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A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
AP
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
14/66
Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
15/66
A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
PA
16/66
Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
PA
17/66
A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
18/66
The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
AP
19/66
Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
EPA
20/66
Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
REUTERS
21/66
A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
PA
22/66
Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
Getty Images
23/66
An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
24/66
Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
25/66
A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
26/66
People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
27/66
A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
Getty Images
28/66
Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
29/66
Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
Getty Images
30/66
An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
AP
31/66
Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
EPA
32/66
Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
Getty
33/66
A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
Reuters
34/66
People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
Reuters
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AFP via Getty
36/66
A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
Reuters
37/66
Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
Reuters
38/66
Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
Getty Images
39/66
Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
PA
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AP
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Getty Images
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Getty Images
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Pro-EU activists protest
Getty Images
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A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
AP
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Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
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Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
47/66
A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
AP
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A man carries an EU themed wreath
Reuters
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Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
PA
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
PA
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Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
Getty
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British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
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Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
Reuters
54/66
Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
AP
55/66
Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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French newspapers
PA
57/66
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
PA
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National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
AP
59/66
Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
Reuters
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A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
Reuters
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People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
Getty
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A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
Reuters
64/66
A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
Reuters
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British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
Reuters
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Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
EPA
The Union flag is due to be placed in the House of European History in Brussels, a spokesman for the European Parliament said.
A similar procedure also took place outside the European Council building where national leaders gather for their regular summit.
The Union flag from the foyer of the parliament was removed by mid-afternoon on Friday, while the flag from inside the European Council was also taken down on Friday evening.
Additional reporting by agencies
