The world's media declared that the 'unbreakable woman' had finally broken after Theresa May announced she would quit, as foreign leaders warned her successor would have to act quickly to clean up the Brexit mess.
The PM's EU colleagues thanked her for her efforts but her possible Tory replacements were warned that Brussels may not offer a better deal - and that a no-deal Brexit may now be impossible to stop.
Many foreign news websites led with the striking image of Mrs May breaking down in tears as her premiership finally crumbled.
German national newspaper Die Welt ran with the headline: 'With a cracking voice, May announces her resignation'.
The New York Times said Britain's PM had been 'undone by Brexit', predicting a 'vicious contest to succeed her within the Conservative party'.
Many world newspapers led with images of Theresa May breaking down with emotion as she quit. Here, the website of German tabloid Bild simply declares 'Theresa May's resignation' and quotes her regret that she could not get Brexit over the line
French broadcaster TV5 Monde said that the 'unbreakable woman has just given way' after Mrs May withstood months of pressure before finally resigning
France's TV5 Monde had a more poetic headline, saying: 'The unbreakable woman has just given way'.
Der Spiegel in Germany said she had been 'overcome by emotion', saying she had been 'massively under pressure from all sides'.
In a scathing assessment, The Australian declared that Mrs May was 'arguably the worst PM in the UK's modern history'.
World leaders are also responding. French President Emmanuel Macron sent Mrs May a 'personal message of support'.
But the Elysee said Britain had to provide a 'rapid clarification' of what it wanted.
'Our relations with the United Kingdom are critical in all areas. It is too early to speculate on the consequences of May's decision,' Macron's office said.
Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa said that a no-deal Brexit now appeared inevitable. A new PM would have to agree a deal by October 31.
'Under these circumstances, a hard Brexit appears to be a reality that is near impossible to stop', she said.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked Mrs May for a 'good and trusting' working relationship and noted her departure with 'respect'.
Spanish newspaper El Pais also led with the picture of an emotional Mrs May and explained that she had begun the race for her successor at 10 Downing Street
The New York Times said Theresa May had been 'undone by Brexit' as her tumultuous three-year premiership comes to a close
Berlin 'wishes to maintain close cooperation and a close relationship with the British government', her spokesman said.
Her office declined to comment on how May's departure could affect Brexit, as 'the development depends essentially on domestic political developments in Britain'.
In Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was 'sorry to
