Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard are amongst the many mourners who have arrived for the funeral of former political lobbyist-turned-psychologist Derek Draper. Kate Garraway’s husband died on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus for three years.
By her side today in support are many of her ITV colleagues, which also includes her former Good Morning Britain co-star Piers Morgan and his wife Celia Walden. Also pictured making their way into the Church of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, north-west London, are Alex Beresford, Laura Tobin, along with Fiona Phillips and her husband, This Morning boss Martin Frizell.
Sir Elton John has arrived with his husband David Furnish to pay their respects while clutching onto a walking stick, after seranading Kate and Derek when they attended his concert together at London’s O2 Arena. Kate had previously thanked Elton for poignantly dedicating his hit song Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to her and Derek during the singer’s Farewell tour.
Also seen arriving is Kate’s former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmate Roman Kemp, who met Derek when he flew out to support her on the show. As well as Roman, Labour leader Keir Starmer, Ed Miliband, Tony Blair and Boris Johnson’s brother Jo Johnson, who knew Derek through his lobbyist work, have been pictured arriving.
The presenter and her late husband Derek’s two children, Darcey and Billy, bravely stood alongside her as they attended the funeral together. Darcey, 17, helped to carry her father’s coffin into the church as seen in emotional photos.
The mum-of-two was dressed in black, wearing a string of pearls around her neck.
Meanwhile, Darcey wore a black faux fur headband as she matched her mum in a black jacket, as her younger brother wore a suit.
Kate announced her husband’s death in view of her 1.2 million followers on Instagram last month after he was hospitalised following a cardiac arrest.
She wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.
“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.”
The presenter went on to say her spouse was “surrounded by his family in his final days” and that she was “by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed”.
The Good Morning Britain host added she had “so much more to say” and will do so when the time is right.
At that time, she went on to give a special thank you to “all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible”.
Kate concluded: “Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
After Derek’s death, Susanna Reid read out a heartbreaking letter on Good Morning Britain, in Kate’s absence.
In the letter, which Susanna shared with ITV viewers, Kate thanked people for their messages of support.
She said: “I am certain that it is the support that you have given me and sent to Derek that has sustained us through these tough nearly four years, motivating us to fight on for each other and for those who can’t fight for themselves.
“It will sustain us to continue that fight in the weeks, months and years to come.”