BREXIT - Historic moment for Britain as Article 50 letter is FINALLY delivered to the EU headquarters in Brussels Wednesday March 29,2017

Donald Tusk was handed the historic letter by Sir Tim Barrow in Brussels Wednesday March 29,2017

Downing Street released an image of the letter to Mr Tusk invoking the process for taking the UK out of the Brussels club 

The six-page letter was handed over some eight months after the people delivered their verdict in the EU referendum.

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It confirms that Britain will be leaving the single market, but wants a broad free trade agreement, and will seek an early deal to guarantee rights for EU nationals already here and Britons living on the continent.

But the missive also included a chilling warning to Brussels against trying to take revenge on the UK for leaving.

Donald Tusk confirmed he had received the Article 50 letter with a post on Twitter

ARTICLE 50: HOW THE HISTORIC DAY FOR BRITAIN WILL UNFOLD

Theresa May will finally trigger Article 50 today and start the process of Britain's departure.

At 8am, she met her Cabinet in Downing Street and brief her senior team on its contents

At around the same time the UK's envoy Sir Tim Barrow arrived at his offices in Brussels. He now has the signed letter notifying the EU of Brexit in his possession. 

Mrs May will take her normal PMQs session at noon.

And at 12.30pm she will make a statement to MPs on Article 50, timed to coincide with the moment Sir Tim delivers the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk. The exact location of the handover has been kept a secret to avoid Europhile protests.

Mr Tusk will tweet to say he has formally received the historic notification. 

Meanwhile, the text of the letter will be released in the UK and Mrs May can expect a barrage of questions from MPs lasting up to two hours.

She will also submit herself to an in-depth BBC interview tonight to explain her approach to the British people. 

The Article trigger is irreversible. It will begin a two year process of negotiations that will expire on March 29, 2019.

While a transitional period is thought likely, Britain will cease to be a full member of the EU. 

Some 279 days will have passed since the referendum on June 23, 2016 when Article 50 is invoked - and exit will occur 1,009 days after polling day