Derek Draper and Kate Garraway’s tragic love story in photos
Kate Garraway‘s husband Derek Draper has died following a tragic three-year battle with Covid.
The 56-year-old was taken dangerously-ill in December having suffered a coronary heart assault, after being struck down by Covid in March 2020.
The father-of-two died on Wednesday surrounded by his household, along with his loving spouse Kate, 56, holding his hand as he slipped away.
It was the heartbreaking finish to a love story that stretched again 20 years, to when Kate and Derek had been launched by ex-GMTV political editor and former MP Gloria De Piero, in 2004.
The pair first went out for drinks at Claridges in a gaggle nevertheless it wasn’t love at first sight, with Kate telling The Times: ‘Derek arrived pondering it was a date and that I used to be being extremely cool by ignoring him.’
She did nonetheless then comply with a date with the previous political advisor and psychotherapist. Their liked blossomed and the pair had been married the next yr, tying the knot in Camden, North London, in September 2005.
Such is her devotion to her late husband, Kate reportedly has by no means eliminated her marriage ceremony ring since their marriage. Together they’ve two youngsters – daughter Darcey, born March 2006 and William ‘Billy’, born in July 2009.
Later, Derek turned one of many longest hospitalised Covid sufferers in Britain, returning house 13-months after being admitted. He suffered a torrid couple of years of heartbreaking setbacks after this, earlier than passing away on Wednesday.
An image of affection: In one of many first photographs of the couple collectively, Derek Draper shares a kiss with Kate Garraway after a romantic lunch in July 2005
The picture got here days after they had been seen collectively at a summer time celebration in London’s Ritz Hotel on July 12
A loving hand: Derek and Kate are pictured smiling in throughout a public outing collectively in October 2005, on the Pride of Britain Awards
Besotted Derek then moved in for a cheeky peck as a beaming Kate giggles
The pair met in 2004 and married a yr later in September 2005 after a whirlwind romance
Dapper Derek arrives in a trendy go well with to St Mary The Virgin Church on his marriage ceremony day
In March 2006, the loved-up couple welcomed their first little one, Darcey, into the world
Now mother and father, Kate and Derek attend the pink carpet occasion marking the tenth anniversary of OK! Magazine in May 2006
A couple of months later they had been seen attending Labour Party Conference in Manchester in September 2006 – each grinning broadly as they embraced for pictures on the occasion
Arriving on the National Television Awards in October 2007, it was clear to see how a lot the couple liked each other, with Derek pecking his spouse tenderly on the cheek
The enjoyable continued for the glamourous duo, who had been seen hugging through the National Television Awards earlier than Derek holds his spouse’s leg up because the pair beam for the cameras
Derek is joined by dancer Anton Du Beke – who was Kate’s accomplice on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 – because the pair raise up Garraway through the NTAs at Royal Albert Hall
Derek and Kate had been as soon as once more seen embracing, this time as they attended the Embassy London’s seventh party in November 2008
In April 2009, Derek launched his ebook ‘Life Support’. Wife Kate was seen loyally by his facet on the occasion in English Speaking Union Dartmouth House Mayfair
Derek could have been sporting a rubber ring through the path to advertise his ebook in 2009…
… But spouse Kate was all the time there by his facet, as his rock holding his head above water (the couple are pictured in April 2009)
Kate and husband Derek arrive on the Galaxy British Book Awards at Grosvenor House later in April 2009, wanting as glamourous as ever
In July 2009 a brand new addition was welcomed into the Garraway Draper family, with little William being born on July 28, weighing 7lb 12oz
One huge household: Kate and Derek attend the premiere of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 – the Squeakquel’ on the Empire Leicester Square in December 2009 with their youngsters and Derek’s mom (left)
An image of household bliss: Father of two Derek shares a loving hug along with his youngsters William and Darcey throughout and occasion for Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog’ in January 2010
Kate additionally attended the occasion at London’s swanky Mayfair Hotel (she is pictured holding William)
Kate Garraway with Her Husband Derek Draper Daughter Darcey and Son William ‘Yogi Bear in 3D’ at Leicester Square’s Vue cinema in February 2011
Another household outing in March 2011 noticed Kate, Derek and their youngsters attending the premier of animated film, Rio
Proud father Derek is pictured along with his youngsters Darcey and William through the ‘Rio’ Gala Screening on the Empire Leicester Square in March 2011
Festive enjoyable – Kate and Derek pose with crackers and tinsel at their Christmas tree
Derek and Kate as snapped as they head to Jonathan Shalit’s fiftieth party in April 2012
A kiss as soon as extra: Kate pecks her husband on the lips at Piers Morgan’s Christmas celebration in 2018
Derek with youngsters Darcey and William as they appeared on ‘Good Morning Britain’ in November 2019 whereas Kate was on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Derek was there to welcome his spouse as she left the I’m A Celebrity jungle in December 2019
Kate Garraway, with husband Derek and their youngsters in Australia in December 2019 following her stint within the jungle on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
Derek and Kate stand facet by facet after she left the I’m a Celebrity jungle in December 2019
Kate Garraway, alongside her husband Derek Draper and two youngsters Darcey, 13, and William in December 2019 as they arrived house from Australia
But in March 2020, tragedy struck as Derek was ravaged by Covid-19. This is the primary image of him in hospital with the sickness
Later, Kate is pictured wanting fearful as she video referred to as her husband from his hospital mattress
Derek turned one of many longest hospitalised Covid sufferers in Britain, returning house 13-months after being admitted. He is pictured waking up from a coma
In December 2021, Derek is seen lastly being wheeled out of hospital wanting frail however with an enormous smile on his face as he was greeted by household and buddies
In 2022, a heartbreaking documentary – Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek – revealed how the virus had impacted him, with Kate taking care of her husband
Kate transformed a part of the household house to are inclined to her husband as he battled again from Covid
The decided mother-of-two would are inclined to her husband, doing all she might to assist him
Derek is pictured along with his youngsters as they celebrated at house following his return from hospital. The picture was captured within the ITV documentary about his restoration battle in 2022
An emotional Derek is later embraced by his daughter through the documentary in 2022
Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile journey journey to Mexico for cutting-edge medical remedy amid his restoration from the debilitating situation
Kate and husband Derek are pictured along with her mother and father Gordon and Marilyn Garraway in July 2023 as she collected her MBE at Windsor Castle
Derek suffered a coronary heart assault in December and died on Wednesday, surrounded by his household – along with his loving spouse Kate, 56, holding his hand as he slipped away
