British prime minister Tony Blair has travelled to Buckingham Palace for an audience with Britain's Queen Elizabeth.
She will invite him to form a new government following Labour's third successive general election victory.
Accompanied by wife Cherie, Mr Blair got into a Jaguar that formed part of a convoy that took him the short distance from Downing Street to the Palace. Mr Blair smiled but said nothing as he stepped into the car.
He is expected to address the media on his return to Downing Street and later finalise details of the anticipated ministerial reshuffle.
During the night and early this morning, it became clear that Mr Blair had won a historic third successive term in government for Labour, although he saw his party's majority slashed by nearly 100.
Earlier today, addressing cheering party workers at the National Portrait Gallery in London, Mr Blair acknowledged the government had to register and act upon voters' concerns.
Mr Blair - who celebrates his 52nd birthday today - told his supporters: "We have got a mandate to govern this country again. . . . We have got to listen to the people and respond wisely and sensibly but they have made it very clear they wanted to carry on with Labour and not go back to the Tory years."
With the bulk of results now in, Labour appear on course for a Commons majority over all other parties of 66 - down from 161.
Tory leader Michael Howard conceded defeat at his count in Folkestone, after retaining his own seat.
He said: "It looks that Mr Blair is going to win a third term for Labour and I congratulate him on that victory. . . . I believe that the time has now come for him to deliver on the things that really matter to the people of our country."
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: "I think it is going to be a very different House of Commons from the one we have had over the past eight years, and I think that is going to be very healthy, whatever people's political views."
PA