The surprise withdrawal of Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom means the UK's government will change much quicker than previously expected.

At 12:15pm on Monday, after just minutes of warning to journalists, energy minister Andrea Leadsom gave a short statement announcing she was withdrawing from the Conservative leadership race, endorsing her rival, home secretary Theresa May, and calling an end to the contest nine weeks early.

Here's what happens now.

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Is May prime minister now?

Not yet. (At 3pm Monday, the time of writing.)

The first thing that needs to happen is for May to become the official leader of the Conservative party. This requires the formal agreement of the party's board and a senior group of its MPs (the 1922 Committee's executive board).

This is largely a formality, and expected to be completed very soon – the party's rules don't allow previous candidates to reappear on the ballot, and the chairman of the 1922 Committee told journalists "we have no need to re-run the [leadership] election".

Brexit supporters Michael Gove and Boris Johnson – both of whom have previously been seen as leadership rivals for May – have endorsed her for leader.

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So will May be prime minister after that, then?

So will May be prime minister after *that*, then?

Still not quite. The prime minister is appointed by the Queen – once someone has demonstrated they can command a majority of MPs in the House of Commons. May's official confirmation as Conservative party leader would be the demonstration of this.

However, David Cameron would have to present his resignation to the Queen, and May would need to meet with the Queen to secure her appointment.

This can't happen immediately, though, as the Queen is not in London. She's presently believed to be in Norfolk (at Sandringham) and is not expected back in London until later this week.

This suggests Cameron will do a final Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, before resigning later this week, at which point May will officially be appointed the UK's PM.

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What happens to David Cameron now?

Cameron is likely to end his tenure as prime minister this week – about two months earlier than he expected. In practical terms, it's unlikely he'd be forced to move his family out of the residential flat in Number 10 Downing Street the same day he resigns, but PMs generally move out very quickly.

This provides a slight practical problem for Cameron: his home in Notting Hill – just around the corner from Michael Gove – is still believed to be occupied by tenants. This may require the PM to stay in his constituency home in Witney, near Oxford, for a few weeks.

Cameron has said he does not intend to resign as an MP when he steps down as prime minister.

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