‘It’s unbelievable’: Kate Garraway receives MBE as husband Derek Draper proudly watches on

The TV presenter was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity
Lisa McLoughlin 28 June 2023
The Weekender

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper was at Windsor Castle to see her receive an MBE from the Prince of Wales.

The Good Morning Britain presenter was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity, and received the award from William on Wednesday with Draper watching from a wheelchair nearby.

The former political adviser fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020, which left him with long-lasting damage to his organs and needing daily care.

Pictures showed him in a blue suit and striped tie, while his wife wore a cream dress with a bejewelled collar and a matching headpiece for the investiture ceremony.

Investitures at Windsor Castle
She received the award from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle
PA

Garraway described how she felt to be sharing the day with her husband, telling the PA news agency: “I think it’s unbelievable.

“So many hours, we thought it would never happen, (but) here we are. It’s fantastic. It’s a real feeling of ‘Right, seize the day and enjoy the moment’.”

Former political adviser Draper fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020, which left him with long-lasting damage to his organs and needing daily care.

Pictures showed him in a blue suit and striped tie, while his wife wore a cream dress with a bejewelled collar and a matching headpiece for the investiture ceremony which Garraway described as “beautiful”.

She told PA: “It’s wonderful. I’ve never been to Windsor Castle before. I’ve been past it, but never inside it, and it’s just a beautiful building, it’s a fantastic atmosphere.

“A room full of people that have done wonderful things in so many different ways, personal struggles and dealt with things in their life, and it’s just a wonderful boost actually, it’s a fantastic thing.

“The Prince of Wales was wonderful. He makes it very easy and very comfortable and he obviously cares a lot about it. It’s a very special day.

“I have met him for some bits and bobs of things with him with charities, and the Prince’s Trust as well, his dad’s charity, so he just said it was lovely that he could see me and we could have a good chat about it.

Investitures 2023: Gareth Bale And Grayson Perry Among Recipients
Kate Garraway, with her husband Derek Draper and her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway, after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Getty Images

“I think he’s very good because he makes everything very special for everybody.”

The TV presenter, whose parents, Gordon and Marilyn Garraway, also attended the ceremony, said it was “wonderful” to share the day with her family.

“We’re going back to see the children and then have a bit of lunch,” she said before joking that daughter Darcey and son William “have to listen to me now because it’s official by royal appointment, isn’t that right?”

Asked about the long delay between her MBE being announced and her receiving the award, she joked: “I was convinced that I had been forgotten because they announced it in the beginning of 2022.

“Then, because of backlogs and various things happening and setbacks, we’re here today - which is lovely.”

Reacting last year to news of the accolade, 56-year-old Garraway said on Good Morning Britain: “I actually feel very awkward about it all really, I don’t know why, because I’m thrilled to bits and incredibly honoured.

“But you just sort of think ‘What? Me?’, and then you think it’s not real.”

Investitures at Windsor Castle
Garraway was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity
PA

The TV star also admitted she had received some negative comments about the honour, saying: “I think it has (evoked) strange feelings. And there have been a few comments since it was announced of people saying ‘Why has she got this? I look after my loved one’.

“I haven’t got it for looking after Derek. It is for broadcasting and I think also charity work. But you know there’s lots of people that you feel deserve it more. So it’s a strange feeling.”

The presenter has made two documentaries detailing her family’s life as Draper battles the long-term effects of coronavirus, with both programmes winning National Television Awards in the authored documentary category.

Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek

1/14

She has also written two books – The Power Of Hope: The Moving Memoir From ITV’s Kate Garraway and The Strength Of Love: Embracing An Uncertain Future With Resilience And Optimism – following 55-year-old Draper’s health struggle.

There are plans for her to front a third documentary exposing the “broken” care system.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in