Kate Garraway is 'only at the beginning of grief' after Derek Draper's death

Kate Garraway has admitted she is "only at the beginning of grief" after her husband's death.

The 'Good Morning Britain' star is trying to focus on her children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, after her partner and their father Derek Draper died in January aged 56 following a four year health battle after contracting COVID-19 in 2020.

Speaking at the Prince's Trust Awards this week, she told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I’m only at the beginning of grief really.

"I’m just three months in so there are many ups and downs to come.

"At the moment it’s about focusing on the youngsters, Billy and Darcy and focusing on doing things like this when I can that I haven’t been able to do."

The 57-year-old presenter explained that her focus is on "keeping busy", although she knows at some point she'll need to "stop and deal with" her grief.

She added: "At the moment it’s all about keeping busy. I’m sure there will be a moment where I have to stop and deal with it.

"But at the moment I’m just keeping busy. Help is there. You just have to ask for it. And sometimes you have to ask for it time and time again.

"And hopefully, organisations like the Prince’s Trust which is particularly good at identifying people, will be there to scoop you up.”

Meanwhile, having the support of her loved ones, 'GMB' colleagues and friends has been a great help to her as she tries to figure out how to keep going after such heartbreak.

She said: "Community is everything, whether it’s friends or colleagues, or your neighbours down your street. It keeps us going. It’s the structure that carries us through life."

Earlier this month, Kate admitted she had woken up feeling "sad" on her first birthday since Derek's death.

On May 6, she wrote on Intagram: "Well yesterday was another one of those sad 1st’s - my first birthday since Derek’s passing.

"Woke up feeling so sad and thought well I can either cry all day or celebrate life as he did so well.

"And thanks to wonderful friends it worked! (sic)"