and ’s son was left in tears by his father’s simple question.
The TV presenter, 56, and her children are in mourning after her husband , and she revealed his family were by his side in his final days, while she held his hand as he passed away.
In July 2023, Kate after being able to briefly communicate with Derek, whose health and mobility were both severely affected after contracting Covid in March 2020.
She told Loose Women: ‘I don’t think we are necessarily going to have a conversation but you get fantastic moments.
‘This is so silly, but Billy had a new basketball and he was bouncing it and suddenly Derek said “Is that a new ball?” and we all just gasped.’
Kate continued: ‘And Billy goes “Yes, yes it is” and [Derek] goes “It’s nice”, and seeing him able to interact, it is something you take for granted, but then Billy was in tears.’
Send Kate Garraway and her children your support after Derek Draper’s death
The author and former political advisor was hospitalised last month after suffering a ‘huge heart attack’, and has been requiring full-time care since contracting Covid in 2020.
for the former political advisor and author, whose long-lasting complications from a infection drew .
He which, due to the damage already inflicted by Covid-19, resulted in further difficulties in the aftermath.
Following the breaking news of Derek’s death, many will be thinking of Kate and the couple’s two young children, who were by their dad’s side in his final days.
Kate thanked those who had looked after Derek in recent weeks before going on to mention that Derek spent his last hours ‘surrounded by his family’.
Who are Kate Garraway and Derek Draper’s kids?
Kate Garraway and Derek Draper had two children together after tying the knot back in September 2005, having .
In March 2006, Kate gave birth to Darcey Mary Draper. Darcey, now 17, has attended several red carpet events with her TV personality mum through the years.
Three years later, in July 2009, the couple announced that their second child, son William, had been born – he took on the affectionate nickname ‘Billy’ shortly afterward.
What has Kate Garraway said about her children amid Derek Draper’s health battle?
Darcey and Billy both appeared in Kate’s emotional documentary Finding Derek, which was originally broadcast a year after Derek first contracted Covid.
In the documentary, Darcey said of her dad: ‘I’ve never thought the worst. I’ve always thought he’s going to get better … but we really don’t know at all.’
Billy revealed that, while he and his dad used to frequently play with Lego together, he’s learned how to spend time playing with the figurines on his own.
‘I built a [Lego house] by myself,’ he said, before confirming that his dad was ‘very much’ like a ‘big kid’ when the two would spend time together.
Billy added: ‘I really want him back but I don’t know if he’s going to get better or not.’
