BIDDING A FINAL FAREWELL TO BELOVED HUSBAND DEREK DRAPER KATE GARRAWAY IS JOINED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS

Kate Garraway was supported by her family and friends from the worlds of TV, politics and music as she laid her beloved husband Derek Draper to rest at the same North London church where they married almost 19 years ago.

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

Wearing a long black coat, a string of pearls and Derek’s watch on her wrist, the broadcaster clutched her 14-year-old son Bill’s hand as they followed Derek’s flower-covered coffin inside the church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, while daughter Darcey, 17, bravely took on the role of pallbearer.

Among the dozens of mourners joining the family at the requiem mass on Friday morning was Sir Elton John, who was with husband David Furnish and gave a touching performance at the service. They were joined by Kate’s Good Morning Britain colleagues Susanna Reid, Charlotte Hawkins, Ranvir Singh, Ben Shephard, Sean Fletcher and Robert Rinder, as well as weather presenters Laura Tobin and Alex Beresford, who arrived hand in hand.

New Labour heavyweights were also out in force to pay their respects to their formerspin doctor, including former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair with Lady Blair, Lord Mandelson and former communications chief Alastair Campbell. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also in the congregation, along with Ed Miliband, Ed Balls, political journalist Robert Peston and former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton.