INFOGRAPHIC: Britain to leave EU, what happens next?

THE United Kingdom voted Thursday to leave the European Union, a historic turn of events that underscored the fraying of the European political and economic union.

It will take days, months and perhaps years to fully grapple with the consequences, but the earliest reactions from markets seemed to confirm experts' fears that Brexit would be deeply disruptive.

READ: Five terrifying immediate reactions to Brexit from the markets

Here is an infographic on what happens next as Britain voted to leave the European Union.

Graphic setting out the EU withdrawal mechanism according to article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon - AFP