Kate Garraway shares advice she’s given to her children ahead of ‘difficult’ first Christmas without husband Derek

Kate Garraway has opened up about facing her first Christmas this year without her husband Derek Draper.

Derek died in January at the age of 56. He had battled Covid-19 and its after-effects since 2020.

This year has marked many ‘firsts’ with Kate and her two children, and Christmas is just a few months away.

Kate Garraway at the NTAs with daughter Darcey
Kate said the first Christmas without Derek will be “difficult” (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Kate Garraway husband

Speaking to Woman and Home, Kate said the first Christmas without Derek will be “difficult”. She has opened up about the advice she’s given to her daughter Darcey, 18, and son Billy, 15.

The Good Morning Britain presenter said: “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.”

Kate Garraway with her children Darcey and Bill at NTAs
Kate said she hopes she won’t be “blubbing all day” on Christmas (Credit: YouTube/NTAs)
Kate added: “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.’”

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.’

In September, Kate marked the 20th anniversary of her wedding to Derek. She shared an emotional message to her Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kate Garraway (@kategarraway)

She said: “So it’s our wedding anniversary today and feeling super emotional but also so grateful to all that Derek brought into my life.

“Leaning into the #grief, by re-reading his old cards to me and also watching the doc #dereksstory – reminding myself of how he fought to the end to get back more of his life and for change for others.”