It was a moment that will define the course of Britain’s future.
And it seems Theresa May was keen to have a permanent reminder of her role in triggering the UK’s departure from the EU.
The Prime Minister has paid out of her own pocket to own a painting that depicts her signing the Article 50 notification letter, MailOnline can reveal.
The historic missive, delivered to Brussels in March last year, formally told the bloc that we were leaving.
It started the two-year countdown to Brexit that will finish on March 29, 2019.
The Prime Minister has paid out of her own pocket to own a painting that depicts her signing the Article 50 notification letter, MailOnline can reveal
After Mrs May signed the letter in Downing Street it was taken to Brussels by the UK’s representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, and hand delivered to EU council president Donald Tusk in another highly symbolic moment
The six-page letter formally triggered the two year countdown to Britain leaving the EU
The acquisition of the painting, which artist James Drake wanted the PM to have, was arranged by former business minister Lord Moynihan.
Mrs May was handed the painting by the peer as a gift in December. As it was valued – conservatively – at £250, the PM paid £110 to the public purse because the ceiling on keeping gifts is £140.
The existence of the keepsake only came to light in a cryptic reference on a transparency log last week, which allowed the facts to be pieced together.
Technically Mrs May could have formally notified the EU of Britain’s departure by email.
But the PM decided the importance of the decision required more ceremonial treatment.
She put pen to paper on the six-page letter under the gaze of cameras in a state room at 10 Downing Street.
From there it was taken to Brussels by the UK’s representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow.
Mrs May put pen to paper on the six-page letter under the gaze of cameras in a state room at 10 Downing Street
Technically Mrs May could have formally notified the EU of Britain’s departure by email. But the PM decided the importance of the decision required more ceremonial treatment
He then handed the letter to EU council president Donald Tusk in another highly symbolic moment.
The Foreign Office recently gave more details of the logistics of taking the crucial missive to Mr Tusk.
Sir Tim was accompanied by another official, with both travelling premier class on the Eurostar at a cost of £985.50.
Mrs May has made great play of her desire for her premiership to be about more than Brexit, saying her domestic agenda is about making the country fairer.
But the purchase of the painting perhaps demonstrates that she knows the challenge of negotiating the country’s departure from the bloc will determine how she is remembered.