Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway demonstrated deep compassion on Thursday as she consoled a guest during an emotional segment on the show. Alongside co-host Richard Madeley, Kate welcomed 16-year-old Diana Defries, who was forced to give up her baby for adoption and is now demanding a formal apology from the Government.
During the poignant discussion, Richard gently inquired about Diana’s final moments with her child. Diana replied, “I can, it isn’t easy because it’s very difficult experience to talk about.” Her raw admission set the tone for an interview filled with personal recollections and painful memories. Diana went on to recount, “I stood there holding her and I felt, it was like something had changed in me, holding her that length of time. It suddenly all made sense, this was my child. I was filled with this feeling of joy.”
She continued, describing the moment of heart-wrenching separation: “The woman came out and said, ‘it’s time’ I still thought that they would change their minds and I just shook my head and held onto her. My mother said, ‘Oh for goodness sake’ prized her out of my arms and handed her over”, reported the Mirror.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Diana found it difficult to proceed, prompting Kate to step in with comfort and tissues. Richard encouraged her to take her time, while Kate sensitively asked, “I know how important this is for you to speak out about this. What was the impact on your life? Of all of this?”
Diana revealed the profound and lasting effect of the ordeal, stating, “It changed everything.” According to reports from the Manchester Evening News, the traumatic experience stripped her of her autonomy and power. She explained how the event, which occurred just days after her 17th birthday, impacted every facet of her life. “It affected my education, it affected the way I went forward,” she admitted, lamenting that she had made “some, probably poor choices because I felt I was devalued.”
When asked about the lasting impact on her relationship with her mother, Diana disclosed that she never received an apology and has never forgiven her. Kate then inquired if she had been able to reconnect with the child who was taken away, to which Diana responded, “Yes, in that respect, I’m very lucky. She’s also said we’ve been very fortunate. I was able to reunite with her when she was 18.”
ITV highlighted that Diana is among the 200,000 unmarried mothers coerced into giving up their babies for adoption in Britain from the 1950s to the 1970s. Seeking clarity on the significance of an official apology, Kate asked, “What would it mean for you?” Diana explained, “What would it mean for me, and for all the people affected by this? Both the mothers and the children who were taken, it would be an acknowledgment of the major, major injustice which we faced. It would be a way of validating what we’ve been saying for years, for decades, that this was wrong. It should’ve never happened. The support was available, but we weren’t told.”
Viewers will have an opportunity to learn more about Diana’s journey and the broader issue during Thursday evening’s program Forced Adoption: Britain’s Silent Scandal.
