Tony Blair resigned as British prime minister Wednesday, marking the end of a 10-year reign and shifting power
to his longtime friend and rival, Gordon Brown.
Reporters rushed to capture the onlookers crowded outside the entrance of 10, Downing Street to get an emotional glimpse of Blair, his wife Cherie Booth and their four children left their official residence for the last time.
Blair''s armoured limousine made the 1.5-kilometre journey to Buckingham Palace, where he offered his resignation to Queen Elizabeth during a 25-minute
private meeting. He departed with a private gift from the 81-year-old monarch.
Shortly after Blair left the palace, Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, arrived for a private meeting with the Queen, who invited Brown to form the next
government. Brown is the 11th politician she has invited to lead her government. The first one was Winston Churchill.
Blair appeared emotional as he delivered his final remarks. Some MPs, including Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, dabbed away tears. He said, "I wish everyone — friend or foe — well. And that is that. The end," Blair told MPs, as his family watched from the visitors'' gallery.