Queen of England signs Brexit bill to move UK's exit from EU one step closer

Britain's exit from the European Union moved another step closer Thursday after the legislation enabling the country's departure was given royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II. 

The Queen's signature means that British Prime Minister Theresa May is now able to move forward and trigger Article 50, allowing formal talks to begin between Downing Street and the EU's 27 member states on the terms of the divorce. 

The negotiations are expected to take up to two years once May finally invokes the leaving mechanism later this month.

This means May remains on course to invoke Article 50 before the end of March.