LONDON - The first major piece of legislation to pave the way for Britain's exit from the European Union became law Tuesday after it was given the Royal Assent by Queen Elizabeth II.

Brexit director David Davis welcomed the move, saying it marked the next essential step in ensuring that Britain is ready for life after leaving the European Union next March.

The Queen's signature in the European Union Withdrawal Bill means it is now official British legislation.

The act gives Prime Minister Theresa May's government the power to transfer thousands of pieces of EU legislation into British law after Brexit.

The law will also repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which took Britain into the EU and meant that European law took precedence over laws passed in the UK Parliament.

The so-called Brexit bill endured a roller-coaster ride as it went through the legislative and parliamentary processes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Members in the unelected upper chamber voted in favor of a number of amendments, threatening the success of May's Brexit bill, described as the most important new law since the end of World War II.