LONDON, July 24. /TASS/. Theresa May has formally resigned from her post of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, having offered her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II, the news emerged after she arrived at the Buckingham Palace for an audience with the Queen to notify her about the decision.

May headed for the audience with the Queen immediately after delivering her final speech as the British Prime Minister. The handover of power is traditionally conducted as quick as possibly. The UK has been without a prime minister for about an hour.

May’s successor, Boris Johnson, met the monarch shortly after, the Queen authorized him to form a new government. Johnson emerged victorious in the Conservative Party leadership contest yesterday, defeating Jeremy Hunt.

Theresa May headed the government since July 13, 2016. After three unsuccessful attempts to win the support of the House of Commons for her Brexit deal, which was reached in the course of negotiations with the European leaders. She was pressured by certain government members and Tory MPs to officially announce her resignation as the leader of the Conservative Party. After the Tory leadership contest came to a close, she resigned as the Prime Minister too.