Theresa May skulks back to Brussels tomorrow for an EU summit she was never meant to attend.
The Prime Minister returns to the city to meet counterparts nearly three months after the UK should have left the bloc.
Her trip comes after her Brexit deal was rejected three times by MPs - triggering her decision to quit No10 next month.
EU leaders will begin carving up key posts ahead a regular shake-up of top officials, at what will be the PM’s last Brussels summit.
Mrs May is unlikely to make a major intervention in the negotiations, with Britain due to leave the EU on October 31 having twice delayed Brexit.
The PM’s spokeswoman said: “We recognise this is primarily a matter for the 27 (remaining EU countries).”
But she added: “As long as we are still a member we will continue to take part in those discussions.”
Posts up for grabs include the presidencies of the EU Council, Commission and European Central Bank.
Leaders will also discuss climate change and tackling fake news.
Before travelling to Belgium, Mrs May will first vote in the latest stage of the Tory leadership battle to choose her successor.
She will then attend a Westminster Abbey memorial service for former Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, who died in November.
Following the tribute, Mrs May will be driven 75 miles in a blue-light convoy to RAF Brize Norton, Oxon, to meet her Bae146 plane for the short flight to Brussels.
The aircraft would normally take off from RAF Northolt in north-west London, but the runway is being resurfaced.
No32 (The Royal) Squadron, which includes the planes used by senior ministers and royals, has temporarily relocated to Brize Norton.
