Sorrow and relief as David Cameron's six years in Downing Street come to an end
There were no tears, but as the Cameron family hugged each other on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, there was the briefest glimpse of sorrow.
It had been, said the outgoing Prime Minister, “a lovely home over these last six years”, but its door had closed behind them for the last time, less than three weeks after the referendum vote that sealed their fate.
There was also, unquestionably, a measure of relief. Hinting at the toll the job had taken, David Cameron admitted that sometimes his children “kicked the red boxes full of work” and that Florence, his youngest daughter, “once climbed into one before a foreign trip and said ‘take me with you’.”
With a glance at his family, he added: “Well, no more boxes.”
He thanked Samantha Cameron, “the love of my life”, for having “kept me vaguely sane” and for being “an amazing wife, mother and businesswoman”.
Then, for the first and last time, the Camerons and their children Nancy, 12, Elwen, 10, and Florence, five, posed for photographers outside the door of No.10, which remained firmly shut.
The mood had been rather more celebratory on Tuesday night, when Mr Cameron’s final 24 hours as Prime Minister had begun with an “end of mission” dinner party.
As 25 close friends and family sat around the long table in the state dining room, Samantha Cameron spoke fondly of their working home.
One source said: “Sam said that what people don’t realise is just what happy times the last six years have been for them as a family; and that whatever crises were going on downstairs one of the great things about Dave was that he was always able to leave that outside the flat and come upstairs and contrary to what anyone might think they have had a very happy time.
“Dave paid tribute to Sam pointing out that every Tuesday, week in, week out, she hosted more charity receptions than any other Prime Minister’s spouse.”
Mr Cameron said that his wife “had quietly excelled at that role and never put a foot wrong”.
Guests were treated to a buffet supper of Cajun chicken, tortilla, salads and new potatoes and then fresh fruit salad at the meal which started at 7.30pm and broke up at 11pm.
Around the table were Mr Cameron’s brother Alexander, Mrs Cameron’s sisters Alice and Emily, nieces and nephews, a handful of MPs including George Osborne, Hugo Swire and Richard Benyon and aides including Craig Oliver, Mr Cameron’s communications chief.
Mr Cameron’s last working day began with a family breakfast, followed by an 8.30 meeting with his team and a 10am arrival at the Commons to prepare for his 182nd and final Prime Minister’s Questions.
A few minutes after midday it began, as had every other, with the question: “Can the Prime Minister list his official engagements for today?”
“Mr Speaker,” replied Mr Cameron, “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.”
The Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan, who had asked the question, joked that “there are lots of leadership roles out there at the moment, there’s the England football team, there’s Top Gear, there’s even across the big pond a role that needs filling…”
Mr Cameron thanked him for his "fascinating suggestions" which he said "sound even harder than this one, so I think I'll pass".
The third MP to ask questions was Jeremy Corbyn. He began by thanking Mr Cameron for his service, before the jousting began.
After paying tribute to the work of Theresa May as Home Secretary, in answer to a question about how she would implement Brexit, Mr Cameron could not resist a dig at Labour, saying: “When it comes to women prime ministers, I'm very pleased to be able to say pretty soon it's going to be 2-0 - and not a pink bus in sight."
Mr Corbyn quoted Mrs May as having said: “Many people find themselves exploited by unscrupulous bosses.” He added: “I can’t imagine who she was referring to.”
Mr Cameron rocked back and forth in his seat with laughter. He could afford to, because he had plenty more jokes about Labour up his sleeve, and his jokes were rather better.
"We've both been having these leadership elections,” he said. "We got on with it. We've had resignation, nomination, competition and coronation. They haven't even decided what the rules are yet.
"If they ever got into power it'd take them about a year to work out who would sit where."
Mr Corbyn replied: "Democracy is an exciting and splendid thing, and I'm enjoying every moment of it."
The Prime Minister told Mr Corbyn: “Let me say something to him about the democratic process of leadership elections, because I have to say I'm beginning to admire his tenacity. He has reminded me of the black knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail.”
Quoting the celebrated scene in which John Cleese’s knight insists on carrying on fighting as his limbs are hacked off one by one, he continued: “He's been kicked so many times but he says 'keep going, it's only a flesh wound'. I admire that." The back benches roared with laughter.
Paying a final tribute to his opposite number, Mr Corbyn wished him well, and passed on his best wishes to Samantha Cameron and the couple’s three children, watching from the public gallery.
“I think we should all recognise that whilst many of us really do enjoy our jobs and our political life it’s the loved ones nearest to us and our families that actually make enormous sacrifices for us to be able to do this,” he said.
Mr Corbyn recalled Mr Cameron’s comment to him in February, after he had failed to sing the National Anthem at an official event, that his mother would tell him to “put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the National Anthem”.
The Labour leader said: "I'd like him to pass on my thanks to his mum for her advice about ties and suits and songs. It's extremely kind of her and I'd be grateful if he would pass that on to her personally. I'm reflecting on the lesson she offered.”
Mr Cameron replied: “I will certainly send his good wishes back to my mother. He seems to have taken her advice and is looking absolutely splendid today!”
Then came Mr Corbyn’s final question, which proved that in while Tony Blair did not “do God”, Mr Corbyn and his team cannot really “do” humour.
"I've got one rumour I want him to deal with,” he said, building up to his punchline. “There's a rumour going around that his departure has been carefully choreographed so he can slip seamlessly into the vacancy created this morning on Strictly [Come Dancing] by Len Goodman's departure.
"Is that his next career?" MPs chuckled politely as Mr Corbyn’s joke fell flat.
Mr Cameron replied: "I don't really have a paso doble so no, I can promise that's not the case."
Peter Lilley, the Conservative MP and former Cabinet minister, turned a compliment into a question by asking the Prime Minister if he was “aware that in 33 years in this house…I have seen him achieve a mastery of that despatch box unparalleled in my time, not just because of his command of detail, of his wit, but because he commands the respect of friend and foe alike”.
Mr Cameron said Prime Minister’s Questions "for all its theatrics does have a purpose" and had admirers around the world.
Recalling a visit to New York when he was leader of the opposition, he said he walked down the street with the city’s then mayor Michael Bloomberg, and: "No-one had a clue who I was until eventually someone said 'Hey! Cameron! Prime Minister's Questions: We love your show!"
The Scottish National Party, however, was in no mood to join in the fun.
Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster Leader, said dourly: “The Prime Minister's legacy will undoubtedly be that he has taken us to the brink of being taken out of the European Union, so we will not be applauding his premiership on these benches.
"What advice has he given his successor on taking Scotland out of the EU against the wishes of Scottish voters?"
Mr Cameron praised Theresa May as a "brilliant negotiator" before telling the House that his advice to her is that the UK should be "as close to the European Union as we can be for the benefits of trade, of cooperation and of security".
He also cheekily claimed credit for Andy Murray’s Wimbledon success, saying: “He asks about the record of this Government when it comes to Scotland, well I’ll tell him what it is,” listing economic growth, devolved government, “and I might add, a Scotsman winning Wimbledon twice while I was Prime Minister”.
There was still time for one last “I can today announce” piece of business, as Mr Cameron told the House that every victim of the NHS contaminated blood scandal dating back to the 1970s and 1980s will for the first time receive a regular annual support payment.
Then, finally, it was time to leave the stage.
"I will watch these exchanges from the backbenches,” he said. “I will miss the roar of the crowd, I will miss the barbs from the Opposition, but I will be willing you on.”
Referring to a famous exchange he had in 2005 when he told Tony Blair "he was the future once", the outgoing premier said: "Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it. After all, as I once said, I was the future once."
As he sat down, Conservative MPs rose to their feet to applaud him, patting him on the back, joined in their standing ovation by a handful of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs (though the Labour front bench and the SNP could not bring themselves to show him the same respect).
He smiled, waved up at his family in the public gallery, and left the chamber with Mr Corbyn, who was waiting behind the Speaker’s chair so he could shake his hand and walk him out.
At the opposite end of the chamber, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, the architects of his downfall, looked on and clapped.
At 4.40, it was time for the Camerons to say goodbye to Downing Street.
Mr Cameron, still only 49, walked to a lectern outside a rain-flecked Number 10, listing such achievements as turning round the economy, cutting unemployment and NHS waiting times as he tried to shape his legacy. The EU merited only a passing mention, as he wished Theresa May the best of luck in negotiating Britain’s exit.
"It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our country as prime minister over these last six years,” he said, his voice wavering ever so slightly.
"And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much."
Then, after the family hug and posing for pictures, the Camerons held hands to walk the few steps to their waiting motorcade. After a final wave to his staff, it was time to keep that appointment with the Queen.
The drive to Buckingham Palace took just four minutes, the audience less than half an hour. At 5.19pm, Mr Cameron’s premiership officially came to an end with an announcement from the Palace that he had tendered his resignation, “which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept”.
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