Inside Derek Draper’s funeral: Friends reveal Kate Garraway ‘wore her husband’s watch to keep a little piece of him with her’ and Elton John moved congregation to tears with rendition of Skyline Pigeon during ‘incredible send-off for a wonderful man’

Kate Garraway gave a loving tribute to her late husband Derek Draper at his ‘heart-wrenching’ funeral at this time the place Sir Elton John decreased the congregation to tears with a music after Tony Blair gave the eulogy.

The Good Morning Britain host, 56, wore her husband’s watch ‘in order that she may carry a bit piece of him on the day’ on the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, the place the couple married 18 years in the past. Derek died on January 3, aged 56.

Kate was together with her ‘courageous’ two kids. Darcey, 17, helped carry her father’s coffin to and from the altar and son William, 13, recognized to family and friends as Billy, held his mom’s hand all through. The kids left notes on wreaths on the coffin, which stated: ‘I really like you with all my coronary heart’ and ‘I really like you dad’.

A supply near Kate stated: ‘Kate wore Derek’s watch in order that she may carry a bit piece of him on the day, and everybody was, after all, so variety to her. Fairly merely, the general public outpouring of assist has stored her going. It was a heart-wrenching day, however an unbelievable send-off for a beautiful man’. 

The funeral fell on Candlemas Day, which means the congregation left holding candles, which had been lit within the church as Sir Elton carried out Skyline Pigeon – the B-side to 1972 hit Daniel – ‘in tribute to Derek’. Its poignant lyrics embody: ‘Flip me unfastened out of your arms, let me fly to distant lands, over inexperienced fields, timber and mountains, house alongside the lanes of the skyway’.

The order of service additionally paid tribute to the singer, who had turn out to be a ‘expensive good friend’ and ‘supported them proper from the very first day’ that Derek had fallen ill with Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Derek was the visitor of honour at a gig final 12 months.

There was additionally a speech by good friend Sir Tony Blair and the congregation, which additionally included David Furnish, Sir Keir Starmer and a number of previous and current Good Morning Britain presenters, sang the hymns Lord of the Dance and The Lord is My Shepherd. 

Following a committal service that lasted virtually 90 minutes, shut household led by Kate and her kids adopted the hearse to a personal burial.

Kate emerged from the church clutching the arms of her kids. A ripple of applause broke out from the small crowd exterior the church as 4 autos carrying shut household adopted the hearse.

An insider instructed The Sun: ‘Kate, Darcey and Billy had been so, so robust all through, and would have been vastly touched by the unbelievable turn-out; it was testomony to Derek’s reputation in each space of his life’.

Kate Garraway left Derek’s funeral clutching her son’s hand and a candle, following the coffin carried by Darcey and 5 different pallbearers. Derek then took his last journey to a personal burial.

Household, buddies and a number of A-listers gathered to recollect the New Labour lobbyist turned psychotherapist died aged 56 after an extended battle with Covid-19.

Sir Elton  arrived on the packed north London church along with his husband David Furnish, shortly after Myleene Klass. Sir Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer had been amongst the large names from the world of politics. Derek Draper labored for New Labour for a few years, together with for former boss Peter Mandelson, who additionally attended.

Kate’s previous and current Good Morning Britain colleagues had been additionally out in drive to assist her on a tragic day.  Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid had been amongst the primary to reach adopted by Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins. Fiona Phillips was seen in public together with her ITV exec husband Martin Frizell for the primary time since she was recognized with Alzheimer’s.

Ms Garraway clutched the arms of her two kids as they waited for the coffin to reach exterior the church, which was filled with a few of Britain’s most well-known folks.

Kate’s teenage daughter Darcey was among the many six pallbearers. The GMB presenter tightly clutched her son William’s hand as they adopted the coffin, briefly trying to the sky.

Garraway, 56, carrying an extended black coat and pearl necklace, entered the church and and greeted visitors forward of Draper being laid to relaxation and household adopted behind.

Derek’s loss of life following an extended battle with Covid-19 moved the nation and at this time’s funeral was filled with huge names who had been buddies and colleagues of him and his spouse.

Labour chief Keir Starmer arrived after Ed Miliband and MP turned TV star Ed Balls additionally got here to say farewell together with former Quantity 10 director of communications Alastair Campbell. 

Journalist Robert Peston, expertise supervisor Jonathan Shalit, former political editor of GMTV and ex-Labour MP Gloria De Piero and former Sky Information political editor Adam Boulton additionally headed into the church. 

Myleene Klass, who has beforehand stepped in to host Garraway’s Easy Radio present was additionally among the many mourners. 

Sir Elton and his husband David Furnish appeared upset as they arrived within the church.

The musician had beforehand invited Draper and Garraway to be his visitors of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Street live performance at London’s O2 Enviornment final 12 months.

Mr Draper was among the many first within the UK to fall critically ailing with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit because the nation entered lockdown in March 2020. 

He was one of many nation’s longest-suffering Covid sufferers after being in hospital however by no means absolutely recovered after the virus left long-lasting harm to his organs and meant he wanted round the clock care. 

Derek had attended few public occasions over the previous couple of years. 

However he suffered a coronary heart assault earlier than Christmas and by no means recovered. Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand ‘all through the final lengthy hours and when he handed’ on January 3 aged 56 after struggling long-lasting signs from coronavirus.

The Good Morning Britain star, 56, introduced the loss of life of her husband of 18 years on Instagram and stated: ‘Relaxation gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I used to be so fortunate to have you ever in my life.’

Derek suffered a coronary heart assault earlier than Christmas following an extended battle with Covid. 

Kate, who had two kids with Derek, Darcey, 17, and their youngest, Billy, 11, stated: ‘I am unhappy to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has handed away.

‘Derek was surrounded by his household in his last days and I used to be by his facet holding his hand all through the final lengthy hours and when he handed. I’ve a lot extra to say, and naturally I’ll accomplish that in the end, however for now I simply wish to thank all of the medical groups who fought so exhausting to avoid wasting him and to make his last moments as comfy and dignified as doable’.

She added: ‘As a few of you could know he has been critically ailing following a cardiac arrest in early December which, due to the harm inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to additional problems.

‘Sending a lot love and because of all of you who’ve so generously given our household a lot assist. Relaxation gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I used to be so fortunate to have you ever in my life.’

Mr Draper was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson who turned a New Labour spin physician and later retrained as a psychotherapist after a collection of political and lobbying scandals. 

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown led tributes. Mr Brown tweeted: ‘So unhappy that after such a courageous wrestle Derek Draper has misplaced his life on account of Covid. I’ll keep in mind him as sensible, inventive and multitalented, and our ideas are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek’.

He suffered a large coronary heart assault in December and MailOnline handed away in a North London hospital. 

Kate stated that he died surrounded by household and his passing led to several friends and former colleagues breaking down on live TV when the sad news broke.

Derek had been plagued with well being woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital. 

Ms Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005.

A distinguished determine in New Labour within the Nineties, Mr Draper labored for Blairite Peter Mandelson and arrange the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to turn out to be an MP.

After he was embroiled within the so-called ‘cash-for-access’ scandal, dubbed ‘lobbygate’, he travelled to america, the place he retrained as a psychotherapist.

In 2021, Ms Garraway gained a prize on the Nationwide Tv Awards for the documentary Discovering Derek, about her household’s expertise throughout the pandemic.

It detailed her husband’s therapy and his subsequent return to their household house.

In July 2022, Garraway confirmed Mr Draper had been readmitted to hospital and later that month it was reported that his situation had worsened.

His battle with the virus gained a lot consideration and assist, together with from former prime minister Boris Johnson and the royal household.

Former lobbyist and political adviser Mr Draper was a part of one in all Britain’s most distinguished media energy {couples}.

The New Labour spin physician reached nice heights of affect within the Nineties however turned finest recognized for his involvement within the ‘lobbygate’ scandal.

A former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, Mr Draper turned a director of lobbying agency GPC Market Entry in 1996 and arrange the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to turn out to be an MP.

It was whereas working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his authorities connections.

In one of many first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blair’s fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: ‘There are 17 individuals who depend on this authorities, and to say I’m intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.’

Mr Draper insisted he had achieved nothing unsuitable within the so-called ‘money for entry’ scandal dubbed ‘lobbygate’ however admitted he did have a ‘huge mouth’.

The incident appeared to spell the top of any larger political ambitions for the famously champagne-swilling New Labour stalwart and he travelled to america, the place he educated as a psychotherapist.

Keir Starmer and Tony Blair joined a number of the Labour elite turning out to say goodbye to Derek Draper at this time.

The present chief and former PM had been amongst these attending the funeral for the New Labour stalwart. 

Ed Miliband, Ed Balls, Lord Mandelson and Alastair Campbell – who all labored intently with Mr Draper within the Blair period – had been additionally current to pay tribute.  

Mr Draper’s spouse Kate Garraway, household and buddies gathered on the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill. He died final month aged 56 after years battling the results of Covid.

Sir Tony described the one-time political adviser as a ruthless political operative and ‘an essential a part of the New Labour story’.

‘He was a troublesome, typically ruthless political operative, an excellent adviser and somebody you all the time needed in your facet,’ he stated final month.

‘However beneath that powerful exterior he was a loving, variety, beneficiant and good natured man you needed as a good friend.’