Europeans watch in somber silence as the European Union takes down UK flags hours before Brexit

The European Union removed Union Jack flags from their key buildings on Friday night, hours before the United Kingdom leaves the EU after 46 years of membership, Business Insider reports.

Footage posted online shows somber-looking EU officials removing UK flags as Britain prepares to finally leave the EU three-and-half-years since the country voted to leave the bloc in a referendum.

Outside the European Parliament, a Union Jack was lowered and then replaced by an EU flag.