Kate Garraway has opened up about how she and her children got through their first Father’s Day without Derek Draper and admitted it was “tough”.
The Good Morning Britain host, 57, took to Instagram the day after to reveal how she, Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, marked the understandably difficult occasion.
Former spin doctor Mr Draper died on January 3 aged 56 after suffering a heart attack just before Christmas almost four years after he first fell seriously ill with Covid.
He was plagued with health woes after contracting the virus in March 2020, and was receiving 24 hour care.
Mr Draper was laid to rest in a private burial earlier this year.
Widow Kate shared how they had reminisced about the good times that they had together and all the things that they still have to be grateful for.
Alongside a trio of images of Draper, his father and Garraway’s own dad, she penned: “So yesterday was one of those days the kids & I knew would be tough. #fathersday - the day when everyone wants to celebrate their daddy.
“We started by visiting Derek’s grave early - and talked about all the amazing things we loved about him, the daft things he did to make us laugh and all the things he has given us that we’ll never forget. We have so much to be grateful for.
“We’re also so grateful to still have my amazing dad in our lives and Derek’s dad too. Brilliant Papa & Grandad.”
There were some moments of light as the family headed to Wembley Stadium for Capital’s Summertime Ball to see the likes of David Guetta, Perrie Edwards, Sabrina Carpenter and Bradley Simpson take to the stage.
She wrote: “Then thanks to my fab @global family we went to the #capitalsummertimeball - an amazing day of music & summer joy. It was sad coming home & not finding Derek waiting to hear “all about it” as he used to say. But so wonderful that we had him at all.”
Acknowledging others struggling on the day, Garraway continued: “I know for so many yesterday would have been a tough day so here’s to getting through and let’s celebrate all the wonderful fathers & father figures & what they gift us everyday.
She concluded her pot with the hashtags “love”, “gratitude” and “lets celebrate life”.
Mrs Garraway’s celebrity friends and followers rushed to offer her their support and well-wises.
“Beautiful words and what a gorgeous photo x,” wrote TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
“Lots of love to you,” penned Garraway’s GMB co-star Charlotte Hawkins, followed by a red love-heart emoji.
“Sending you all huge hugs and lots of love. Know he was loved so much and he knew it. Take care,” added another.
