Brave GMB star Kate Garraway all smiles with daughter ahead of first Christmas without Derek Draper
Christmas is almost here and what better way to celebrate than with a celeb-filled bash? Former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan hosted his annual Christmas party on Friday night and invited many of his previous colleagues to ring in the festive season.
Although he left the show four years ago, 58 year old Piers partied with his close showbiz pals, including Kate Garraway, Charlotte Hawkins, Richard Madeley, and Laura Tobin, at Kensington's Scarsdale Tavern in London.
But it looks like the night out was a family affair for Kate and Richard who brought along their daughters for the celebration. Kate, in particular, looked sensational in a burgundy velvet suit, which she paired with gold brogues and sparkly gold earrings as she smiled along her children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15.
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Meanwhile, Richard, 68, and his daughter Chloe, 37, enjoyed the festivities at the star-studded event. Richard opted for blue jeans and a white T-shirt, with Chloe wore a white shirt dress and black leather boots.
Despite putting on a brave face, this Christmas will mark Kate's first since losing her husband of 19 years, Derek Draper. The former political lobbyist tragically passed away in January following a lengthy battle with COVID-19, and Kate is resolved to create new memories with their children during their first Christmas without him.
Speaking to Woman and Home magazine, she shared: "This Christmas will be difficult, as all the firsts are, but I’ve said to the kids, ‘Let’s do what feels right, do some new things and make new memories.’ Maybe we’ll go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve? You’ve got to try and let things evolve into new memories, and I’m going to be led by them.
"It will be our first Christmas without Derek, but to be honest, the last four or five Christmases have been challenging, although we’ve also had the joy of having Derek there with us... I hope I won’t be blubbing all day, but I’m sure there will be emotional moments. However, I want it to be fun and happy for Darcey and Billy because it’s been a tough few years for them. Maybe they’ll think, ‘At least Dad’s out of pain’."
Derek was diagnosed with COVID in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital after suffering multiple organ failure. Kate shared her sorrow that he has missed many milestone moments in their children's lives.
She said: "I was so sad that Derek wasn’t there to see that Darcey did better in her A levels than she thought she was going to. I thought, ‘You should be here – you’d be so proud.’ But I have to believe that he knows, and that he’s looking down and seeing all of it. My hopes for the kids’ future are that they can be happy, find something they feel passionate about – and occasionally put their laundry into the laundry bin!".
