Kate Garraway rings in daughter Darcey’s 18th birthday with help from pal Myleene Klass as they organise fun-filled tea party – two months after Derek Draper’s death

Kate Garraway rang in her daughter Darcey’s 18th birthday with the help of her friend Myleene Klass at the weekend.

The presenter, 56, pulled out all the stops for the fun tea party, which came two months after her husband Derek Draper’s death.

The former political lobbyist died aged 56 on January 3 following a cardiac arrest after years of multiple health complications after contracting Covid.

Admitting that Darcey ‘didn’t want a party’ so close to her father’s death, Kate chose to ring in her birthday with a special family lunch at home.

In a clip shared on Instagram, they enjoyed a roast dinner, a two-tier pink cake, in a room decorated with balloons and pictures – including pictures of Derek.

Alongside the post, Kate wrote: ‘So yesterday our little baby Darcey officially and legally turned 18!!!

‘She had said she didn’t want a party as it was too soon after her father’s death, but maybe a small family lunch at home.

‘I knew her father would want the day to be marked and special, so I sent a bat signal to Myleene Klass, who assembled the most amazing gang of Warrior Women and Warrior Men.

‘Huge thanks for insane kindness goes to Meg @mysticalfairiesparties (including the most beautiful brownies ever), delicious food from @MySupperHero.

‘A cake that took Darcey’s breath away @TamoTreats. And the best teen Instagram background ever!! @EventsBySK.’

It comes after Kate fought back tears as she came face to face with a man who shared a hospital ward with her late husband Derek Draper.

She was visibly emotional during an interview with children’s author Michael Rosen, 77, who was in the same intensive care unit as Derek as they battled Covid.

In the moving interview, Michael and Kate discussed ITV’s new drama Breathtaking, which depicts the harrowing ordeal of NHS staff during the pandemic, as well as his own struggle with ‘survivor guilt.’

Michael was in intensive care for 47 days when he contracted Covid in 2020 and he previously admitted he was only ‘hours from dying’.

Derek died aged 56 on January 3 from a cardiac arrest after years of multiple health complications after contracting Covid.

During the interview on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate explained to viewers that she was initially unaware that Michael and her late husband were battling Covid at the same time.

She said: ‘Derek was on the same ward and you were in a coma at the same time’, before recalling the kind words of a nurse who had been transferred to the hospital from Great Ormond Street.

During the interview, Kate and Michael also discussed the lack of PPE available to NHS staff during the pandemic, as well as Michael’s struggle with ‘survivor’s guilt.’

He said: ‘A lot of staff feel guilt – which they shouldn’t, but feel guilty about what they could have done differently – and shock and trauma.

“And in your own way you’ve felt—though again you shouldn’t—you’ve felt guilt, tell us.”

Referring to Derek’s death, Michael said: ‘Well I’m telling you Kate.

‘I hear about people who died and meet people, I get into a taxi and the driver says their relationship has died from Covid. And I think, why am I here?’

Ben also described his own “arm’s length” experience of watching his long-time friend Kate struggle with Derek’s health battles for months after contracting Covid.