Kate Garraway was comforted by friends and family as a huge list of celebrities and politicians turned out for Derek Draper’s funeral today.
The Good Morning Britain star said her final goodbye to her beloved husband at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill.
Draper was one of the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid and died of a heart attack following several years of health issues stepping from the virus just before Christmas last year.
Fellow Good Morning Britain colleagues Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid were among the first to arrive and were shortly followed by big names in politics such as Sir Keir Starmer, Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell owing to him being a former researcher of Lord Mandelson and his role helping develop New Labour in the 1990s.
Derek Draper funeral latest: Kate Garraway arrives
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Kate Garraway holds her son's hand as she enters church
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Garraway and Draper married at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill in September 2005.
Garraway, 56, often provided health updates about her husband on ITV and fronted two documentaries on the channel about how the family’s life changed following his illness.
The couple had two children, Darcey and Billy.
Garraway announced her husband’s death on Instagram, with a post saying: “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.
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Sir Keir Starmer, Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell arriving for funeral of Derek Draper
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Susanna Reid arriving at Derek Draper's funeral
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“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.
“I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.
“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.” (sic)
(L to R) Piers Morgan, Elton John and Myleene Klass arriving for Derek Draper's funeral
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Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish were also among those who attended the funeral of the former political lobbyist-turned-psychologist.
The musician had previously invited Draper and Garraway to be his guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London’s O2 Arena last year.
GMB stars Charlotte Hawkins, Ben Shephard, Richard Madeley, Alex Beresford, Rob Rinder, Susanna Reid, Sean Fletcher and Richard Arnold also paid their respects.
