Charlotte Hawkins, co-presenter of Good Morning Britain, 

has opened up about the immense grief and ongoing pain experienced by her colleague Kate Garraway following the tragic passing of her husband, Derek Draper. 

Kate, who had been by Derek’s side throughout his long battle with complications from long Covid, 

has found herself navigating life without him after he passed away in January at the age of 56.

Derek’s health struggles began in March 2020, when he contracted Covid-19. 

Over the following years, he faced severe medical complications, leading to long-term hospitalization and extensive care. 

Kate remained by his side throughout, sharing updates with the public about his condition and the challenges they faced as a family. 

Despite her unwavering dedication and hope, Derek’s health deteriorated, and he sadly passed away earlier this year.

Speaking in a recent interview, Charlotte Hawkins shed light on how the team at Good Morning Britain has been rallying around Kate during this incredibly difficult time. She emphasized that grief is not something that simply goes away but is a constant presence in life. “When you lose someone that you love very much, it’s constant pain,” Charlotte stated. “You wonder what the way forward will be. It’s not a question of getting over it but learning to live with it.”

She also praised Kate for her strength and resilience, acknowledging that the journey to healing will take time. “When Kate lost her husband, Derek, in January, everyone pulled together to support her. She’s been through an extraordinarily tough time. It’s going to take time for Kate to heal, but she knows we’re all here for her.”

Since Derek’s passing, Kate has continued to share some of the challenges she has faced in adjusting to life without him. One particularly difficult moment came when she received a polling card in the mail addressed to Derek. With her daughter Darcey recently turning 18, Kate had been looking forward to voting together for the first time. However, neither she nor Darcey received their own polling cards, and the only one that arrived was in Derek’s name.

Kate expressed her frustration and sadness over the situation, revealing that it was too late to make changes to the electoral roll in time for the 2024 election. “Polling cards have come through the door, I haven’t had one for myself or her. The only polling card that’s come through the door is for Derek, sadly, who’s passed away,” she said. The emotional moment was another reminder of the difficult adjustments she continues to make.

When announcing Derek’s passing, Kate shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband. In a touching statement, she expressed her deep sadness and gratitude for the medical teams who fought to save him. “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away,” she wrote. “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.”

Kate went on to describe how she had been by Derek’s side in his final moments. “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,” she revealed. “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.”

Her message concluded with an emotional farewell to Derek, as she expressed the deep love she had for him. “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.”

Kate’s strength in the face of such loss has been an inspiration to many, and her Good Morning Britain colleagues continue to support her as she navigates this difficult journey. Charlotte Hawkins’ words reflect the deep bond shared among the ITV team and their commitment to being there for Kate as she processes her grief and finds a path forward.

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