Kate Garraway praises Kate Middleton for sending her a 'beautiful' condolence letter while she was recovering from surgery – and reveals that King Charles 'who knows of sorrow' also wrote to her

Kate Garraway has revealed she has received a 'beautiful letter of condolence' from the Prince and Princess of Wales following the tragic death of her husband Derek.

The presenter, 56, made an emotional return to Good Morning Britain today – just three days after laying her husband Derek to rest.

Derek Draper became seriously ill during the early part of the pandemic in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before being discharged. He died on January 3 after prolonged symptoms of the coronavirus.

During the show, the mother-of-two explained how the Prince and Princess of Wales and King Charles have been in touch to pay their respects.

She explained: 'Catherine and William sent a lovely letter.

“I know Catherine herself was in the hospital, so I really appreciated that.”

The couple's letter of condolence comes after the Princess of Wales left hospital last week following a planned abdominal operation.

The Prince and Princess of Wales aren't the only royals to have reached out to Kate Garraway following Derek's death.

She continued, “And I had a letter from the king, who knows much about sorrow.

'Because there is someone who knows about grief and also knows about that kind of anticipatory grief where you know that something is about to happen and will happen and maybe inevitably will happen at some point, but how different it is when it does happen.'

However, the presenter then said that she had made 'a kind of confidentiality statement' about the contents of the letters from the royal family.

She added, “I just think it's sweet of them to reach out to me, but it's nice to know that those people understand those emotions. I think it connects us all.”

In June 2023, Kate Garraway was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle. The honor recognized her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.

During the moving Investiture ceremony, Kate's late husband Derek watched from the sidelines in a wheelchair.

Late last year, Kate revealed that she had planned to attend the Princess of Wales's carol service at Westminster Abbey, but Derek's health had unfortunately deteriorated.

Speaking on a GMB broadcast, the mum-of-two said: 'I was going to take my dad who had been looking forward to it for so long.

'But unfortunately we ended up back in the hospital with a new crisis. It will be wonderful to watch it with everyone.'

Discussing Derek's funeral service and final days, Garraway said how their 17-year-old daughter Darcey told him, “Dad, if you can't do this, everything will be okay.” Let yourself go if you have to go.”

In the heartbreaking interview, she said Darcey whispered to her father: “Don't worry about us, don't worry about mommy. We'll be fine, because you live on through us.'

Garraway said she had similar conversations with him and a “chance to hold his hand, smell his skin” and tell him “we're here” — adding that “some people don't understand that.”

The presenter also revealed that her daughter had been 'extremely brave' and introduced herself as a pall bearer after four horrific years for the family.

The 56-year-old, who will co-host the program with Ben Shephard from Thursday, spoke from her home via videolink just three days after his funeral.

Garraway thanked her colleague Susanna Reid for compiling a book of condolence from viewers, praising the “incredible love” she has received.

Garraway also said her “emotions are at 110 percent” after the funeral, and spoke of the “outpouring of love for everyone who supported me.”

She said she was told Draper had 24 hours to live, a month before he finally died.

Garraway also discussed her daughter Darcey's role as a pallbearer at the service, saying: 'Darcey came into the room when we were talking about it. [funeral plans] and said: Please let me carry the coffin.

“And I thought, crikey, that's a practical challenge, anyone who's ever done it, it's tough. And she said I wanted to do it and basically insisted on doing it, and I loved that she was carrying her father.”

Of Darcey and son Billy, 14, she added: “Because of their grief, we are in the foothills, we know there is still a long way to go.”

She continued, “They didn't want to pressure him to continue. I don't think he felt that, I think he kept going because he wanted to be here.”

Meanwhile, Garraway confirmed she will return to the station on GMB on Thursday and joked: “I'm going to look out for a hairdryer.”

She said she will also remove the fake eyelashes and fake tan, adding: “Don't worry, I'll look a lot more respectable.”

Garraway continued, “I'm looking forward to getting out into the world and reconnecting with everyone.

“Thanks for having me back, but please be patient, I may be a little rusty. I think there is a new king. Have I caught up?'

Garraway also said she has received “extraordinary” messages of condolence from unexpected sources.

She told GMB: 'I had the most beautiful letter from David and Victoria Beckham – handwritten, very good handwriting… that was Darcey's observation.

'And from the royal family – Catherine and William sent a lovely letter, and I know Catherine herself has been in hospital.

'Even the king, because there is someone who understands sadness, that anticipatory sadness where you know something is about to happen and how different it is when it does happen.'

Garraway started the interview by saying: 'Good morning, welcome to my home, we have Rab here and Mark and Simon, who of course you know very well, and so do I.

'The first thing they said was: 'Shall we shoot it like this, because it is neater'. And I said, 'I think it's a little late for that now.' Let's just take the shit into our own hands and get on with it. So here you are, Lego and chaos. Nice to talk to you.'

Speaking about the book of condolence, Garraway told Reid and fellow presenter Richard Madeley: 'They (the crew) arrived with this this morning. I believe Susanna, you were part of this. This is yours, beautifully done, thank you. Messages for Derek. And it's a strange thing.

'By the way, I also have three baskets full of messages, cards from viewers, from the crew there, and I'm sure you've sorted through a lot of them here. It's just great. It feels like my emotions are at 110 percent.

'The incredible love we all have as a GMB family. It's just great, and ITV in general. I think we're very, very lucky – you're already going to make me cry, so let's try to take a few minutes to think about it – the love that we have as a family, which is people watching at home.

“You are the home that makes us so connected, and we have always been connected in all our joys and all our fun and the challenges of life that poor Derek has faced and our family has too.

“But when I get these messages it makes me cry because I feel so grateful, and I'm also aware that there are people this morning who don't have that feeling of love and just want to share it with you.”

She also praised Draper's “spirit and fight to keep going” and said her children Darcey and Billy had been “extraordinary throughout.”

Garraway continued, “It feels like five years and two minutes since Derek was in a positive situation before the cardiac arrest that took him from us.”

She added that people asked why she returned to work so quickly, but said: “Life has to begin. We have to pick ourselves up and move on.

“That's what Derek would want me to do. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.'

Garraway would “like to keep busy and get back to work,” and also hopes to return to her show on Smooth Radio. The plan for now is for her to return full-time, but ITV has given her the opportunity to take time off as and when she needs it.

Draper's funeral – which was attended by former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, musician Sir Elton John and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, among others – took place last Friday at the Church Of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, north-west London.

Ahead of Garraway's return to GMB, a post on the show's X account yesterday said: 'Tomorrow Kate Garraway will be joining us for the first time since the death of her beloved husband Derek. Watch from 6am on ITV.'

In a short video accompanying the post, which featured a series of images and clips of the couple, an ITV voiceover said: 'Kate Garraway has shared the story of caring for Derek over the past four years, highlighting the struggle that thousands face.