Theresa May becomes Britain's new prime minister

LONDON — Theresa May has become Britain's new prime minister Wednesday after meeting withQueen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

May, former home secretary, is Britain’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, who ran the country between 1979 and 1990. She began to announce members of her cabinet Wednesday evening. Her first appointment is Philip Hammond as Treasury chief.

Hammond, the former foreign secretary, replaces George Osborne, who held the post for six years. Osborne has resigned from government. May appointed formerLondon mayor Boris Johnson as U.K. foreign secretary.

The foreign secretary position is one of the most high profile in the British government and Johnson's appointment comes as a surprise because he was widely acknowledged to misstep in the immediate aftermath of the U.K.'s vote to leave theEuropean Union.

Michael Fallon will continue as Secretary of State for Defense under May.

In a speech earlier outside 10 Downing St., May said she followed in the footsteps of "a great modern prime minister."

"David Cameron has led a one nation government and it is in that spirit that I also plan to lead," May said.

She said her party believed in the "precious, precious bond" between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"It means we believe in a union not just between the nations of the United Kingdom but between all of our citizens — every one of us — whoever we are and wherever we’re from," she said. "As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world and we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us."

Before entering the building with her husband Philip, she said, "Together we will build a better Britain."

First photo shows @theresa_may with the Queen as she is invited to form a new government #TheresaMayPM pic.twitter.com/Thd833SwNx

— Press Association (@PA) July 13, 2016

Cameron noted shortly before resigning Wednesday that serving as prime minister for six years was "the greatest honor of my life" in his last speech outside the official residence on Downing Street.

Standing with his wife Samantha and their three children, Cameron spoke of a legacy that includes legalizing same-sex marriage, investing in the National Health Service and giving aid to the poorest people and countries in the world.

He thanked his children Nancy, Elwen and Florence, his wife, and all who supported him.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our country as prime minister over these last six years, and to serve as leader of my party for almost eleven years," he said. "And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much."

Cameron then headed to Buckingham Palace to formally give his resignation as prime minister to Queen Elizabeth II. "Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept," the resignation, a spokesman for the queen said in a statement.

Earlier Wednesday, Cameron took questions from members of Parliament at the House of Commons, which ended in a standing ovation from lawmakers.

“I will miss the roar of the crowd. I will miss the barbs of the opposition,” Cameron said. He announced his resignation after Britain voted to leave the 28-member European Union in the June 23 referendum. He had campaigned to remain in the EU.

Cameron, 49, is the youngest prime minister to leave office since the Earl of Rosebery in 1895.

He thanked his children Nancy, Elwen and Florence, his wife, and all who supported him.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our country as prime minister over these last six years, and to serve as leader of my party for almost eleven years," he said. "And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much."

Cameron then headed to Buckingham Palace to formally give his resignation as prime minister to Queen Elizabeth II. "Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept," the resignation, a spokesman for the queen said in a statement.

Earlier Wednesday, Cameron took questions from members of Parliament at the House of Commons, which ended in a standing ovation from lawmakers.

“I will miss the roar of the crowd. I will miss the barbs of the opposition,” Cameron said. He announced his resignation after Britain voted to leave the 28-member European Union in the June 23 referendum. He had campaigned to remain in the EU.

Cameron, 49, is the youngest prime minister to leave office since the Earl of Rosebery in 1895.

May was greeted with a huge cheer as she entered the House of Commons. "This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, other than one meeting this afternoon with Her Majesty, the queen, the diary for the rest of my day is remarkably light," Cameron said, to laughter from lawmakers.

May, 59, was elected the leader of the ruling Conservative Party on Monday and became the sole candidate for prime minister when her rival, Andrea Leadsom, pulled out of the leadership race.


Closer look at Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May
 Fullscreen