Britain and the 27-nation European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal launching a new chapter in relations after their divorce in 2020.
Here is a look back at key developments since the UK's shock decision to 'Leave' in 2016.
2016: referendum
In a June 23, 2016 referendum Britons vote by 52 percent to have their country become the only one to leave the EU.
Britain's Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the EU, resigns.
He is replaced by Theresa May.
On March 29, 2017, May formally triggers the exit process, which gives the United Kingdom two years to leave the bloc.
2018/2019: divorce deal
UK and EU negotiators agree a draft divorce deal in November 2018.
But the British parliament votes against it three times in 2019, delaying Brexit and forcing May to step down in July 2019. Brexit figurehead Boris Johnson succeeds her.
In October British MPs approve in principle a new Brexit divorce deal Johnson has struck with the EU, but refuse to rush it through, meaning Johnson's goal of leaving the bloc on October 31, 2019 falls through.
EU members agree to postpone Brexit yet again, until January 31, 2020.
2020: finally, Brexit
Johnson's resounding win in a snap general election in December 2019, smooths his Brexit bill's passage through parliament in January 2020.
On January 31, 2020 the UK formally leaves the EU.
It enters a transition period up until December 31, 2020, during which much in the relationship does not change.
An agreement on future trading relations comes into effect at 2300 GMT on December 31, 2020. EU rules cease to apply and the UK leaves the single market.
2022: Northern Ireland protocol
In June 2022, Johnson's government proposes a draft law amending parts of the Brexit divorce deal concerning trade though Northern Ireland, which has a land border with EU member Ireland, citing supply difficulties.
A deal is struck which includes the "Northern Ireland Protocol", keeping the province in the European single market for physical goods, unlike the rest of the UK, but creating a customs border down the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The EU brandishes the threat of retaliatory measures for breaches in the agreement.
In February 2023 new prime minister Rishi Sunak reaches an agreement, the "Windsor Framework", with the EU to overhaul the trading rules for Northern Ireland.
It creates a check-free lane for goods coming from the rest of the UK that are intended to stay in Northern Ireland, without entering Ireland and the EU's market.
2024: relations improve
After the Labour Party returns to power in the UK in July 2024, after 14 years of Conservative governments, new Prime Minister Keir Starmer expresses a will to improve relations with the EU, without seeking to go back on Brexit.
The warming ties are fuelled by cooperation over the war in Ukraine, the common Russian threat faced and the uncertain situation after the return to power in the United States of Donald Trump.
On Monday, at the first EU-UK summit since Brexit, Britain and the EU strike a deal setting out closer ties on defence and security.
The bloc agrees to lift controls on UK exports in exchange for Britain extending EU fishing rights in its waters.