Derek Draper funeral latest: Kate Garraway is embraced by loved ones as she lays husband to rest after heartbreaking Covid battle – with TV stars and politicians in attendance

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

Kate clutched the hands of her two children as they waited for the coffin to arrive outside the church, which was packed with some of Britain’s most famous people.

Kate’s teenage daughter Darcey was among the six pallbearers as her mother watched on.

The GMB presenter tightly clutched her son William’s hand as they followed the coffin into the church. Members of Mr Draper’s family followed behind.

Kate was embraced by her loved ones as she arrived at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill for Derek’s funeral.

A source told The Sun: ‘The treatment went incredibly well, and his doctor and all the consultants were hugely optimistic about his long-term progress, and future.

‘Unfortunately as Kate excitedly returned to bring Derek home he suffered a cardiac arrest’.

The broadcaster was by Derek’s side in intensive care in Mexico and worked with UK doctors who oversaw his return via a specialist plane.

Kate had spent Christmas Day in hospital with her husband Derek as he was ‘too unwell’ to go home – after suffering a cardiac arrest last year.

A source told The Mirror: ‘Unfortunately Derek was too unwell for doctors to allow him home for Christmas. But the last thing Kate wanted was for him to be alone during the holidays.

‘So they brought Christmas to him, food, presents and all. The whole family was there with him and they had the best day they could.’

Kate told Smooth Radio: ‘Right up to the last minute, I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to get Derek there.

‘It took weeks of planning and just days before, it looked like he would be too sick to attend. Even on the journey there, he seemed so weak.’

Elton previously reached out to Kate last month after she shared the news of Derek’s death on social media.

Alongside Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars, many of Derek’s former colleagues and friends from his time as a political lobbyist were in attendance, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Keir Starmer and Alastair Campbell.

The presenter, who worked with Kate on GMTV, revealed last year she’d been diagnosed with dementia.

The TalkTV star quit Good Morning Britain in 2021 after an on-screen spat with star Alex Beresford.

Derek was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of the country’s longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care.

He suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered. Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand ‘throughout the last long hours and when he passed on January 5.

Ahead of the funeral, Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard were seen arriving to attend the service.

Derek Draper was born in Chorley, Lancashire on August 15, 1967.

He attended Runshaw College, Leyland before pursuing further education at the University of Manchester.

During his political career as a lobbyist and a political advisor, he was also a researcher for Labour minister Peter Mandelson.

Towards the tail end of the 90s, he was also dabbled in the world of print journalism, working as the political editor of the Modern Review.

In 2009, he founded his own blog, the LabourList, but later stepped away from his position as editor-in-chief following a scandal regarding leaked emails.

On August 23, 2019, Derek decided to withdraw his Labour membership after 25 years.

Family, friends and stars from the worlds of TV and politics are gathering at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill for Derek’s funeral this morning,

M Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of the country’s longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care.

He suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered. Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand ‘throughout the last long hours and when he passed’ on January 5.