MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK ready to depart the EU: Queen Ascent to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal

After passing the final hurdle of obtaining the Queen's approval on Thursday, the Brexit bill is officially law, and the country is expected to exit the EU on Jan. 31.

Queen Elizabeth II signed off on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, paving the way for the United Kingdom to depart the European Union next week. After passing the final hurdle of obtaining the Queen's approval on Thursday, the Brexit bill is officially law, and the country is expected to exit the EU on Jan. 31.

Britain voted to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, but progress on approving a plan for the nation's exit was stalled for more than three years.

In October, Johnson, 55, secured a Brexit deal with the EU, but Parliament later blocked a vote on the deal, forcing the prime minister to ask the EU for another extension to pass it.

Johnson then called a December election in an effort to win enough conservative seats to get the deal passed.

He led the Conservative Party to victory in the UK's legislature, winning 80 seats and a Tory majority.

A month later, members of Parliament passed the “Withdrawal Agreement Act” and sent it to the queen for approval.