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Prime Minister Theresa May hosted a bilateral meeting with the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at 10 Downing Street.

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

This afternoon the Prime Minister welcomed President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for a bilateral meeting at Downing Street.

The Prime Minister and President agreed on the deep historical ties between our two countries and that we should strengthen our relationship in the face of new global challenges.

They discussed the process for the UK leaving the EU and the Prime Minister reiterated that we will be triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year. She said the UK is leaving the EU but not leaving Europe and that we will be approaching negotiations in a spirit of good will and pragmatism.

Following the meeting the Prime Minister and the President took a few moments to look at the 630 year old Treaty of Windsor provided by the National Archives for the occasion. They agreed that the Treaty signed between Portugal and England in 1386 - the oldest diplomatic alliance between England and another country - reflected the enduring and historic friendship between our two nations.