A cause for celebration for some, a sobering moment for others. The UK formally ended its EU membership at the stroke of midnight on Friday in Brussels, 23:00 GMT in London.

A projection of a countdown clock in Downing Street marked the occasion.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed the "dawn of a new era", promising "real national renewal" after 47 years of EU membership.
With the divorce now sealed, one chapter of Brexit has come to an end. The next, however, has only just begun.
This is where we are now.
What will change?
At first, not much.
An 11-month transition period has begun and the UK will largely stick to EU rules.
The really big changes will come when that transition ends. But the EU really is now a club of 27 members and not 28.

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In other words the UK stays for now in the EU's customs union and single market. That means the same trade rules and free movement of goods and services. Freedom of movement for people stays the same and the EU's top court still has jurisdiction.

■ What is the customs union?
But there will be no more British voices in the European Parliament and no British ministers at EU meetings where big decisions are made.
Instead, the UK will try to agree a different economic partnership with the EU and forge new ones beyond.

President Donald Trump has already dangled a "massive" trade deal.
What does it mean for me?
If you're British you are no longer an EU citizen. But for now you can still travel around the EU as freely as before.
The same goes if you're an EU citizen in the UK.
But after the transition period, which the UK vows will end on 31 December 2020, immigration rules will change for UK and EU citizens.
The 3.5 million EU nationals in the UK have until June 2021 to apply to an EU Settlement Scheme, but if there's no deal on future ties the deadline is the end of this year.
The 1.3 million UK citizens in the EU may need to apply for residence status.

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After transition, the UK is planning a points-based immigration system, which will affect anyone, whether from the EU or not.
UK citizens will be able to visit the EU for up to 90 days at a time, but they will need a visa waiver, which will cost €7 (£6.30).
What happens now?
The UK and EU will use the next 11 months to negotiate a new relationship. Few on the EU side believe that is long enough, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but Boris Johnson has vowed to do so.

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■ All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU

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■ What trade deals has the UK done so far?

They want a free trade agreement that sets out the terms of trade, employment standards and environmental rules and other issues between the UK and the EU.

Good for them