Kate Garraway shares heartbreaking advice to kids ahead of huge milestone without Derek

Television presenter has shared her emotional preparations for the upcoming holiday season, as she and her children face their first Christmas without her beloved husband, Derek Draper.

Derek sadly passed away in January 2024 at the age of 56.

The well known author and former political adviser had been living with extreme complications from COVID-19 since contracting the virus in March 2020.

After suffering a cardiac arrest in December 2023 due to the long-term damage inflicted by COVID, Derek's health worsened, and he died on January 5, 2024.

Kate confirmed his death in a heartfelt Instagram post, saying, "I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. 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."

As the family approaches their first Christmas without Derek, Kate opened up about how she plans to guide her children Darcey and Billy through the season.

She told the woman&home magazine: "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."

Derek had endured a lengthy and gruelling battle with health complications ever since he was put into a coma in April 2020 after contracting COVID.

Although he was declared COVID-free by June of that year, his body had undergone significant damage, and he remained in the hospital for over a year.

In April 2021, Draper returned home on a trial basis but continued to require round-the-clock care.

By July 2022, his health had deteriorated again, leading to a series of hospitalizations until his passing.

Reflecting on the difficult years leading up to Derek's death, Garraway said, "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."

She 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.'"