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THEIR CHILDREN

Who are Kate Garraway and Derek Draper’s children Darcey and Billy?

KATE Garraway's husband has sadly passed away.

Derek Draper leaves behind his TV star wife, and their two beloved children.

 Kate Garraway pictured with her late husband Derek Draper and their two children in 2011
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Kate Garraway pictured with her late husband Derek Draper and their two children in 2011Credit: REX Features

How many children does Kate Garraway have?

Kate Garraway and her late husband were together for nearly two decades, until his sad death in January 2024.

The couple had two children during their time together.

They welcomed a daughter called Darcey on March 10, 2006.

Darcey was followed by their son William, known as 'Billy', who was born on July 28, 2009.

When did Kate and Derek get married?

They first met in 2004 and married the following year in 2005.

They were originally introduced by a mutual friend, former GMTV political editor Gloria De Piero.

Gloria had originally asked Kate whether she had any single friends that would like to meet Derek.

Speaking to The Times about the moment they met, Kate said: "Derek arrived thinking it was a date and that I was being incredibly cool by ignoring him.

"He asked me out, but the day of our date called to say he had a clash.

"He’d promised to serve wine at an amateur watercolour painting exhibition at his church. I really thought it was a wind-up.

"But I turned up and he was indeed serving wine to the congregation in a salmon-pink jumper."

When did Kate Garraway's husband die?

Kate’s husband Derek had been extremely ill since he contracted Covid.

He was first rushed to hospital in March 2020, before spending 13 months in hospital after falling into a coma and being put on a ventilator. 

After this, Derek suffered ongoing health problems, with brain inflammation, kidney failure and liver and pancreas damage.

He also had difficulty breathing.

In February 2023, Kate and Derek flew to Mexico for a ground-breaking medical trial.

They also made two further trips to specialist clinics in a bid to help him lead a normal life. 

Sadly, Derek passed away on January 5, 2024.

His wife Kate announced the heartbreaking news in a moving Instagram post.

She wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

“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."

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