Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Kate: Charles reached out to me over Derek
Prince of Wales revealed as kind royal from her memoir
PRESENTER Kate Garraway has revealed Prince Charles was the mystery royal who reached out to offer help during her husband’s prolonged coronavirus battle.
The Good Morning Britain host thanked the Prince of Wales for offering the use of specialist royal doctors to treat hubby Derek Draper, who is believed to be Britain’s longestsuffering Covid-19 patient.
Kate, 54, had revealed the offer of a royal physician’s services in her book Kate Garraway: The Power Of Hope.
And she was heard thanking the Prince for his letter at his Prince’s Trust Awards ceremony yesterday.
Charles asked: “Is he better?” but Kate replied: “Not really. He’s got all the damage... can’t speak, can’t walk.”
After Charles seemed shocked, Kate added Derek had become ill after the same awards ceremony last year.
She said: “He got sick and was in a coma for, sort of, 11 months.” The
Prince said: “That’s incredible, how it affects.”
Although back at home with Kate and their children Darcey and Billy, Derek still requires round-the-clock care.
Viewers got an insight into the family’s traumas in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.
In it, the psychotherapist opened up about his struggles with illness and suicidal thoughts.
Earlier in the day, Charles was moved to tears when a 20-year-old man paid tribute to his college tutor for her support as he turned his life around with help from the Prince’s Trust.
Aidan Sayers’ transformation from teen excluded from school to man with a home, car and job was recognised with a Trust award presented by Charles. Aidan said of Claire Mcgarvey: “I’ve got as much love for you as my grandma. Without the Prince’s Trust I wouldn’t be standing here obviously. I would probably be on the streets.” Aidan, who lives in Darlington, Co Durham, had enrolled on a Prince’s Trust Achieve course. The Prince
told the ceremony at St James’s Palace: “It really is marvellous to be together again in person... to share in the celebrations of all these wonderful young people. Their stories have alternatively moved me, made me laugh and cry.”
Kate and host Fearne Cotton were joined by supporters of the Prince’s Trust including Trust head of Ambassadors Annie Lycett. Actors Richard E Grant, Colin Salmon and Hugh Dennis, and British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful also attended.
The Prince’s Trust helps 11 to 30-year-olds develop the confidence and skills to realise their ambitions.