In pictures: Liz Truss becomes UK's 56th PM

Liz Truss has become the UK's 56th prime minister after being appointed by the Queen at Balmoral Castle. Here is a selection of photos from the day she officially replaced Boris Johnson as leader, becoming the country's third-ever female PM.

The day began with a media circus outside 10 Downing Street to capture Mr Johnson's farewell speech - almost two months exactly since he resigned as Conservative leader following a string of controversies

The outgoing prime minister compared himself to "one of those booster rockets" that "has fulfilled its function" and pointed to what he said were his achievements in office, such as resolving the Brexit impasse, the vaccine programme during the pandemic and supporting Ukraine following its invasion by Russia

Mr Johnson's wife Carrie, pictured in pink, and his sister Rachel were among supporters who gathered to watch his parting words, which brought to an end a tumultuous premiership of less than three years

Farewell speech done, Boris Johnson waved goodbye

After delivering his speech outside Downing Street, both Mr Johnson and Ms Truss travelled separately to meet the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire

First, Mr Johnson arrived and tendered his resignation to the monarch

Then Ms Truss arrived to officially succeed Mr Johnson as prime minister

She was met by the 96-year-old Queen, who was pictured with a walking stick

After greeting each other, Ms Truss was officially appointed as the UK's 56th prime minister and the third female PM

After leaving Balmoral, Ms Truss returned to Downing Street to deliver her first speech as prime minister

As rain hit Downing Street, the lectern from which Ms Truss would make her speech was swiftly moved inside only to be brought back out just minutes later as the downpour eased

MPs, Downing Street staff and supporters were caught in the heavy rain as they waited for Ms Truss to arrive at Number 10

As she made her first public address as the new PM, Liz Truss said she was honoured to take on the role "at a vital time for our country"

(Left-right) Brandon Lewis, Nadhim Zahawi and Ben Wallace were among those who listened to Ms Truss make her maiden speech as PM

The new PM and her husband Hugh O'Leary shared a smile on the doorstep of No 10

And there was a round of applause as she walked into No 10 as PM for the first time

After the ceremony of Ms Truss's arrival at No 10, there was the matter of assembling a new cabinet. Kwasi Kwarteng, the former business secretary, has been made chancellor

Therese Coffey, known to be a close ally of Ms Truss, was delivered the news that she has been made health secretary and deputy prime minister

James Cleverly, the former education secretary, was promoted to foreign secretary

And Suella Braverman, who had been attorney general, was made home secretary