Brexit supporters gather during a rally at the Parliament square in London, Jan. 31, 2020. (Photo: AP)

While Brexit supporters gathered in different places all over Britain to welcome the moment they’d longed for, many Britons mourned the loss of their EU identity. Some 300 protestors marched in front of the 10 Downing Street.

In a televised message, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Britain’s departure “a moment of real national renewal and change.”

French President Emmanuel Macron called Brexit a “sad day”. He said:  "This departure is a shock. It's a historic warning sign which must be heard by all of Europe and make us reflect as for the first time in 70 years, a country is leaving the EU. It’s a sad day, let’s not hide it.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel cast Brexit as a sad moment that was a turning point for Europe, but warned that upcoming negotiations on future relations between the UK and EU will not be easy.