KATE Garraway’s young daughter carried her father Derek Draper’s coffin to his funeral today as family and friends came to pay their respects.
Distraught Kate was joined by her two children, Darcey and Billy, for the service where Kate and Derek tied the knot almost 20 years ago.
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Kate left the church after the service holding a candle Credit: i-Images
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Daughter Darcey carried her father’s coffin as it left the church
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Kate could be seen holding her 14-year-old son Billy’s hand as she left
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Piers Morgan was seen leaving the funeral holding the programme
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Kate arrives at the funeral with children Darcey (left) and Billy (right) Credit: Dan Charity
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Derek and Kate’s daughter Darcey, 17, bravely carries the coffin into the church as a pallbearerCredit: i-Images
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Derek’s coffin, covered with flowers, greenery and loving messages from the family, enters the church this morningCredit: LNP
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TV presenter Kate greets mourners as she arrives at Primrose Hill Church Credit: Charity Day
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Kate wore a large black coat and a large white pearl necklaceCredit: LNP
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Derek’s funeral is being held in the same church where he and Kate were married in 2005 Credit: Dan Charity
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Kate watches as Derek’s casket is removed from the hearse. Credit: Splash
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Darcey prepares to carry her father’s coffin as a pallbearer Credit: Getty
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A note on the coffin said Derek was ‘the best cousin a girl could ask for’ Credit: LNP
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Pink, purple and white flowers at the funeral spelled out ‘Dad’ Credits: LNP
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Daughter Darcey’s message on flowers says: ‘I love you with all my heart’ Credit: LNP
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Derek and Kate were pictured after she was awarded an MBE in June Credit: Getty
Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan were among a number of celebrities who joined the family to mourn 56-year-old Derek.
Kate held the hand of her 14-year-old son Billy as she left the service in Primrose Hill, north London.
Her daughter Darcey, 17, showed bravery as she helped carry her father’s coffin to and from the church.
A solemn Kate looked on as his coffin was decorated with flowers – one of which read: “The world won’t be the same without you.”
Rest in peace now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.
Kate Garraway
The Good Morning Britain star looked heartbroken as she met and hugged mourners before watching her husband’s coffin being carried into the church.
The GMB presenter briefly looked up at the sky as she walked in with Billy inside.
She wore a long black coat with large pearls with Darcey and Billy also in black.
The funeral comes four weeks after Derek died on January 3 at the age of 56 after an almost four-year battle with complications from Covid.
Derek became seriously ill during the early part of the pandemic in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before being later discharged.
He was readmitted to the hospital in December when he had a heart attack.
Brave Kate endured “eight grueling weeks” after taking her covid-stricken husband Derek to Mexico for specialist treatment.
Many of Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars attended the funeral, including Ben Shephard, Susanna Reid and Ranvir Singh.
ITV’s Lorraine Kelly and Ben Shephard, who work alongside Kate as presenters on GMB, also attended.
Other celebrities such as Sir Elton John, Judge Rinder and Myleena Klass were seen entering St Mary the Virgin Church.
Sir Elton has supported Kate during Derek’s illness, with her previously describing the music legend as a “great friend”.
Sir Elton previously invited Kate and Derek to be guests of honor at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London’s O2 Arena last year.
TV presenter Fiona Phillips and This Morning editor Martin Frizell, who both worked on ITV’s former morning program GMTV.
Myleene Klass, who previously stepped in as host of Kate’s Smooth Radio, was also among the mourners.
Kate frequently gave updates on her husband’s health on ITV’s morning show and hosted two documentaries on the channel about how the family’s life changed after his illness.
Scores of politicians – including Labor leader Keir Starmer and former prime minister Tony Blair – attended the funeral to pay their respects.
We are taking time to heal, now that Darcey and Billy know their dad is at peace and free of pain and struggle.
Kate Garraway
Derek was a former researcher to Lord Mandelson and was a key figure in the early years of New Labor in the 1990s.
Kate announced her husband’s death on Instagram, with a post that read: “As some of you may know, he was critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, due to the damage caused by Covid in March 2020, led to further complication.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand during the last long hours and when he passed away.”
TV star Kate recently put on a brave face in a photo for the first time since Derek’s death.
The GMB presenter, 56, managed to smile as a friend hugged her ahead of the funeral.
Derek Draper’s four-year health battle
- March 30, 2020: Derek is rushed unresponsive to hospital with Covid.
- April 24: He was put into an induced coma.
- June 5: Kate reveals that Derek is free of Covid, but his body has suffered damage.
- July 5: Awakens from a deep coma, but remains “minimally conscious.”
- September 6: Kate then reveals that Derek has lost eight stone and is unable to speak.
- September 29: Derek becomes the longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 184 days in hospital.
- October 30: Wakes up from a coma and speaks for the first time in seven months.
- October 31: He is finally taken off the ventilator after 214 days in the hospital.
- 7 January 2021: Kate reveals that the children got to visit Derek for Christmas – the first time since he was in hospital.
- April 9: Derek returns home after more than a year, but needs round-the-clock care.
- May 4: He can talk more.
- December 22: Photographed in public for the first time on panto.
- February 21, 2022: Kate says they secretly flew to Mexico for a medical.
- July 6: Derek is rushed back to the hospital.
- August 1: He is in intensive care with “life-threatening” sepsis.
- 28 June 2023: Sees wife Kate made an MBE.
- October 8: Kate reveals that Derek is “not feeling well” after the infection.
- November 23: In the hospital for mobility assistance.
- December 11: He fell ill and suffered a heart attack.
- January 3: Derek Draper dies tragically.
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The couple married in Primrose Hill, London in September 2005
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Kate was praised for her documentary – Caring For DerekCredit: ITV
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The father of two sadly leaves behind children Darcey and Billy. Credit: Rex
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GMB colleague Susanna Reid attended Derek’s funeralCredit: Getty
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Former GMB colleague Piers Morgan attended the service with his wife Celia WaldenCredit: LNP
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Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie arrive at the funeral of the former Labor politicianCredit: Dan Charity – The Sun
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Sir Elton John who was Kate’s friend during the difficult period – with his partner David Furnish Credit: PA
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Kate’s GMB colleague Ben Shephard Credit: Splash
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Labor leader Keir Starmer was one of the politicians who attended the event Credit: Charity Day – The Sun
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Current GMB host, ex-minister and ex-Labour shadow chancellor Ed BallsCredit: PA
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Musician and TV presenter Myleene Klass Credits: PA
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Weather forecasters Laura Tobin and Alex Beresford attended the funeral of their colleague’s husbandCredit: PA
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Richard Arnold and Charlotte Hawkins Credit: Getty
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Radio and ITV presenter Roman Kemp Credit: Dan Charity – The Sun
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