Theresa May delivered her farewell speech with her husband alongside her
She wished new Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government well, adding: “Their successes will be our country’s successes.”
Earlier, Mrs May faced MPs’ questions for the final time and looked visibly emotional as she left to applause.
Mr Johnson will speak outside No 10 too, before announcing several senior cabinet appointments.
He is expected to use the opportunity to increase the number of women in full cabinet positions and boost the representation of ethnic minorities.
Mrs May gave her final speech in Downing Street – her husband Philip alongside her – before heading to Buckingham Palace.
She said serving as prime minister had been “the greatest honour” and thanked all those who had worked with her.
“This is a country of aspiration and opportunity, and I hope that every young girl who has seen a woman prime minister now knows there are no limits to what she can achieve,” she added.
Mr May was briefly interrupted by a protester shouting “Stop Brexit!” but responded by saying: “I think the answer to that is – I think not.”
A short time earlier, at her final PMQs, Mrs May said she would continue as a constituency MP and was “looking forward to asking the questions” in future.
She said she was happy to hand over to a successor committed to delivering Brexit and creating “a bright future for this country”.
A number of MPs took the opportunity to praise her commitment to office and her achievements on issues like modern slavery, mental health and getting more women into politics.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn acknowledged Mrs May’s “respect for public service”, but criticised her record on the economy, homelessness and Brexit.
He asked whether she would consider joining him “in opposing the reckless plans of her successor”.
She, in reply, listed what she felt were her successes, including school improvements, more employment and greater home ownership.
“At its heart, politics isn’t about exchanges across these despatch boxes, nor about eloquent speeches or media headlines,” she said. “It is about the difference we make every day to the lives of people up and down this country.”
In a parting shot at Mr Corbyn, she added: “As a party leader who has accepted when her time was up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same.”
Former London mayor Mr Johnson won a decisive victory over Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in a ballot of Tory members – gaining a 66.4% total share of the vote.
Conversations are said to be “ongoing” between Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson about the foreign secretary’s next role.
Risky decision
The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg says Mr Johnson’s choice of his top team is critical in his efforts to bring the warring factions of his party together.
Mr Johnson is resolute that his leadership rival should not stay on at the Foreign Office, but Mr Hunt is firm that he won’t accept anything less than his current role – or becoming home secretary, chancellor or deputy prime minister – and considers other moves a demotion.
Our political editor says it is a risky decision for the new PM – forcing Mr Hunt out would be a bad move in terms of uniting the party, but giving in to his refusal to budge is a challenge to his authority.
Another key decision Mr Johnson faces is who will take over at the Treasury as chancellor.
The incumbent, Philip Hammond, handed in his resignation to Mrs May, saying the new PM should be free to choose someone “fully aligned” with his views on Brexit.
Those said to be in the frame to replace him include current Home Secretary Sajid Javid, former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Liz Truss, Mr Hammond’s deputy at the Treasury.
Meanwhile, Dominic Cummings, the former chief of the Vote Leave campaign, is expected to become a senior adviser to the new prime minister.
David Frost, a former ambassador and senior official at the Foreign Office, will be appointed as a key negotiator on Brexit.
After his victory, Mr Johnson said his priorities were to deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted his congratulations to the new PM and wished him well for the “great privilege and responsibility” to come. (BBC)
