AFTER 18 long years it was worth the wait. Hundreds queued outside Downing Street, many more lined the pavement, while still others climbed trees and pillars just to catch a glimpse of the historic moment.
Then at 1.01 p.m. the British Prime Minister finally arrived. The roar of approval from the crowds was deafening. "Labour's coming home," they sang.
Police and journalists joined in the applause as Mr Blair stopped his official car yesterday and slowly walked down Downing Street with his wife, Cherie. Amid a sea of union flags, the couple attempted to thank and embrace the hundreds of supporters and local schoolchildren waiting on the steps of No 10 to welcome them to their new home.
"I have never seen anything like this, and I've worked here for 10 years," admitted one police officer, as Thatcher's huge iron-gates, which were designed to keep the people out, were opened again to let more supporters through.
There were tears, hugs and kisses. Champagne bottles were passed along the crowd. The sun was out and now, as Mr Blair had repeatedly predicted throughout the six-week campaign, the Tories were out.
"Tony, Tony," the people chanted. "Prime Minister, Prime Minister, over here," shouted the photographers. "Britain's just got better," declared the children's T-shirts.
With a large smile, Mr Blair stood in front of the door of No 10, grasped the rostrum and announced he had accepted Queen Elizabeth's "kind offer" to form a new government. History had finally been made. Men and women began to cry, the children danced in the street, and the crowd burst into song again: "Labour's coming home."
As his elderly father, Leo, himself a former Tory, watched his son's moment of triumph, Mr Blair emotionally thanked the British people for placing their trust in him to unite the country and provide leadership, both at home and abroad.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Cherie Blair hugged and kissed her husband on No 10's doorstep while their three children led the rapturous applause. Downing Street staff, who had wept just a couple of hours ago as Mr Major departed, hung out of the windows, surveying the ecstatic scenes.
With the photographers' screams of "Prime Minister, Prime Minister" still ringing in his ears, Mr Blair and his family finally entered 10 Downing Street at 1.17 p.m.
"Labour's come home," sang the crowd.