Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has movingly described the complex wave of sadness and anger she experienced while taking her daughter, Darcey, to start university, a milestone moment made profoundly difficult by the absence of her late husband, Derek Draper.
A Milestone Shadowed by Grief
The television host admitted that watching other new students arriving with the support of both parents was particularly hard, highlighting the physical and emotional gap left by Derek's death. Derek Draper, a former political lobbyist, died in January 2024 at the age of 56 after a four-year health struggle, having been one of the UK's longest-suffering Covid patients. The couple share two children, Darcey and Billy.
Garraway revealed that the journey to this point was fraught with anxiety, compounded by the family's tragic loss. "We assumed she was going to fail her A levels basically," Kate confessed, explaining that Darcey's education had been severely disrupted during her father's illness and following his passing. Despite this, Darcey performed "a lot better than anybody including the school thought she would," a success that brought a sense of relief before the emotional university transition.
The Painful Reality of Being a Solo Parent
Speaking on the Off Menu podcast, Kate detailed the poignant scene at the university accommodation. "It was a very conscious feeling when you're watching the parents all carrying the boxes in," she said. "Of course not everyone has got both parents there, but it does feel like it to you. We're just struggling with the cases and everything and also thinking he would be so proud."
The moment of driving away alone was especially tough. Kate described how she missed having Derek by her side to share in the bittersweet mix of pride and sadness. "I did have a really good weep because I thought the two of us, Derek and I, should be going now to have a bite to eat and to drive home both emotional but also having a little pat on the back thinking 'ok, we got her there, we got her through'. And instead I just felt sort of cross that he wasn't there."
Finding Comfort in Memory
Despite the grief, Kate shared how both she and Darcey find solace in believing Derek remains a guiding presence in their lives. Darcey, in particular, attributes positive events to her father's influence. "Anything good that happens she says 'that was dad'," Kate explained. This can range from securing sold-out festival tickets to last-minute computer issues resolving before a deadline.
"I like that, that's a nice way of her feeling like he's taking care," Garraway said, emphasising how this belief helps her daughter feel connected to and supported by her father. This shared sense of Derek's ongoing presence provides a crucial thread of comfort as the family navigates major life events without him physically by their side.
