May and Merkel share a laugh over matching outfits

Theresa May and Angela Merkel may not always see eye-to-eye on Britain’s future in the European Union, but their shared taste in fashion sparked a moment of jollity before talks at the special European Council on Brexit began.

The Prime Minister was seen laughing as the German chancellor showed her something on her iPad, with other EU leaders joining in as the tablet computer was passed around.

It later emerged that Mrs Merkel’s screen was showing a side-by-side image of the two world leaders wearing jackets of exactly the same colour and shade as they took questions in their respective Parliaments earlier in the day.

The pair had both donned bright blue outfits for the important day of talks in Brussels.

The European leaders have met to discuss extending the Article 50 deadline, with Mrs May looking set to be offered a lengthy delay to Brexit.

European Council president Donald Tusk has recommended that leaders of the remaining 27 EU countries approve an extension of up to a year, with a break clause allowing the UK to leave as soon as it ratifies its Withdrawal Agreement.