At midnight his advisors were saying it would take a miracle to win but Donald Trump pulled off perhaps the greatest shock in US election history to snatch the White House from under the nose of arch-rival Hillary Clinton.
Democrat Clinton – seeking to become the first woman President – won a slightly greater share of the national vote but Republican Trump held a dominate advantage in the arcane Electoral College that governs US elections.
And shortly before 7am UK time she called to offer her congratulations and concede what will have been a painful defeat.
See our live blog for a blow by blow account of what happened and read our eight-page special edition below.
