Kate Garroway gets MBE as smiling husband Derek watches on

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper was at Windsor Castle to see her made an MBE

Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 28th Jun 2023

Kate Garraway was watched by her husband Derek Draper as she was given her MBE by the Prince of Wales.

The 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.

Kate Garroway and her family outside Windsor Castle with her MBE.

The artist Grayson Perry was also recognised, receiving a knighthood in a red taffeta dress.

Kate Garroway receives her MBE from Prince William with her husband Derek watching on smiling from his wheelchair.

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.”

She 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.”

Grayson Perry given a knighthood

Sir Grayson Perry accepted his knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle wearing a burgundy taffeta dress in honour of King Charles.

The Turner prize winning artist and broadcaster, 63, who is known for his tapestries, ceramic works and cross-dressing, was recognised in the New Year Honours list for services to the arts.

In 2014, Sir Grayson was made a CBE during an investiture by the then Prince Charles and wore what he called his “Italian mother-of-the-bride” outfit, a midnight blue dress with a wide-brimmed black hat.

Speaking about his knighthood outfit on Wednesday, he told the PA news agency: “The last outfit was ‘mother-of-the-bride’, so maybe I’m now ‘grandmother-of-the-bride’ – I’ve got a bit older.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.