CLARE DRAKEFORD, the wife of Wales’s First Minister Mark Drakeford died “suddenly”, the Welsh Government announced yesterday.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is with deep sadness that we confirm the sudden passing of Clare Drakeford, wife of the First Minister.
“The thoughts of everyone in the Welsh Government are with the family at this time and we ask that their privacy is respected.”
Her cause of death is not yet known.
Last year Mr Drakeford revealed he had been separated from his “vulnerable” wife for much of the pandemic.
Read our Clare Drakeford live blog below for the latest updates…
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Prince William and Kate pay tribute
The Prince and Princess of Wales have Tweeted: “Sending our thoughts and prayers to Mark Drakeford and his family. W & C.”
It comes hours after it was announced that Clare Drakeford had died suddenly.
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Leader of Scottish Labour ‘heartbroken’
Anas Sarwar the leader of Scotland’s democratic socialist party tweeted: “I can’t put into words how heartbroken I am for Mark Drakeford and his family on the passing of his wife Clare.
“The entire Scottish Labour family sends our love and condolences.
“I hope the happy memories Mark and Clare had together are a comfort at this difficult time.”
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Tributes flood in
Sinn Fein vice president, Michelle O’Neill said: “My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they mourn their loss and come to terms with their grief.”
The Presiding Officer of the Senedd, Ceredigion MS Elin Jones, said: “As a Senedd we are deeply saddened to learn of Clare Drakeford’s passing.
“We are holding Mark and his family close to our hearts and send them our deepest condolences, love and support.”
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Rishi Sunak passes on ‘deepest condolences’
Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had passed on his deepest condolences to Mr Drakeford privately.
The 66-year-old died suddenly today however her cause of death is not yet known.
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Keir Starmer pays tribute
Labour leader Keir Starmer has taken to Twitter to pay tribute to Clare Drakeford.
He said: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Clare Drakeford.
“On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I send our deepest condolences to Mark and all the family.
“They are all in our thoughts and prayers.”
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Who was Clare Drakeford?
Clare had been married to the Welsh Labour Leader since 1977.
The pair had three children together.
Last year Mr Drakeford revealed he had been separated from his “vulnerable” wife for much of the pandemic.
The pair had lived in separate homes in order to “keep her safe”.
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‘My heart is absolutely breaking’
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price tweeted: “My heart is absolutely breaking for @PrifWeinidog after hearing of the sudden passing of his wife, Clare Drakeford.
“I know how close you were and there are no words to describe the pain you must be feeling. My thoughts are with you and your family. We’re all here for you Mark.”
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Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said she is sending Mark Drakeford “love and strength” following the news that his wife, Clare, has died suddenly.
“My thoughts are with Mark and his family at this terribly sad time,” Ms Sturgeon tweeted.
“On the occasions I met Clare it was obvious how strong the bond between her and Mark was, and I can only imagine the depth of grief he is feeling.
“Sending him love and strength.”
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‘Shocked and so very sad’
Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said: “So shocked and so very sad at the news of Clare Drakeford’s death.
“The thoughts and sympathy of all us in and across the Welsh Parliamentary Labour Party are with Mark and his family.”
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Jane Dodds pays tribute
Paying tribute to Clare today, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: “My thoughts are with the First Minister and his family at this very difficult time.
“On behalf of everyone in the Welsh Liberal Democrats, I extend our deepest condolences to Mark, his family and friends.”
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Boris Johnson pays tribute
The former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, released a tribute to the Drakeford family.
“I want to send my condolences to Mark Drakeford after the terrible news about his wife Clare. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time,” he wrote on Twitter.
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Cause of death unknown
The cause of death remain unknown after Clare Drakeford died suddenly.
Last year Mr Drakeford revealed he had been separated from his “vulnerable” wife for much of the pandemic.
The pair had lived in separate homes in order to “keep her safe”.
He told ITV Wales: “I’ve been married for a very long time and not to be in the house and to be at a physical distance, even though we saw each other every day and talked every day, it was a puzzling experience in that sort of way and for that to be over it is a bit emotional for everybody.”
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‘Thoughts of everyone in the Welsh Government with Mark’
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is with deep sadness that we confirm the sudden passing of Clare Drakeford, wife of the First Minister.
“The thoughts of everyone in the Welsh Government are with the family at this time and we ask that their privacy is respected.”
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Tributes flood in
One person Tweeted: “Very sad to hear about the sudden death of Clare Drakeford. My condolences go out to Mark and his family.”
A second added: “Such desperately sad news. It’s devastating to learn of ClareDrakeford’s sudden passing.
“My deepest condolences to all mourning the tragic loss.
“My thoughts are with Mark Drakefor and his family, and everyone who loved Clare at this incredibly difficult time.”
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‘I can’t imagine the pain’
Rishi Sunak has taken to Twitter to share his condolences following the death of Clare Drakeford.
He said: “Incredibly sad to hear about the sudden death of Clare Drakeford.
“I know how committed Mark and Clare were to each other. I can’t imagine the pain Mark and his family will now be feeling.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to them.”
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Pictured: Mark and Clare Drakeford
First Minister Mark Drakeford’s wife Clare has died suddenly.
The 66-year-old had been married to the minister for 46 years and they had three children together.
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Clare Drakeford had Covid in 2020
Mark Drakeford spoke of “difficult days” after his wife and mother fell ill with coronavirus in 2020.
The First Minister moved out of his home into a building in his garden to keep his family safe during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the BBC he said: “On a purely personal level both my wife and my mother fell ill with coronavirus at a point where I was not able to live at home because they were both vulnerable.”
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Prince William and Kate pay tribute
The Prince and Princess of Wales have Tweeted: “Sending our thoughts and prayers to Mark Drakeford and his family. W & C.”
It comes hours after it was announced that Clare Drakeford had died suddenly.
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Andrew Davies ‘deeply saddened’
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies, said he was “shocked and deeply saddened”.
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Leader of Scottish Labour ‘heartbroken’
Anas Sarwar the leader of Scotland’s democratic socialist party tweeted: “I can’t put into words how heartbroken I am for Mark Drakeford and his family on the passing of his wife Clare.
“The entire Scottish Labour family sends our love and condolences.
“I hope the happy memories Mark and Clare had together are a comfort at this difficult time.”
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Tributes flood in
Sinn Fein vice president, Michelle O’Neill said: “My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they mourn their loss and come to terms with their grief.”
The Presiding Officer of the Senedd, Ceredigion MS Elin Jones, said: “As a Senedd we are deeply saddened to learn of Clare Drakeford’s passing.
“We are holding Mark and his family close to our hearts and send them our deepest condolences, love and support.”
-
Rishi Sunak passes on ‘deepest condolences’
Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had passed on his deepest condolences to Mr Drakeford privately.
The 66-year-old died suddenly today however her cause of death is not yet known.
-
Keir Starmer pays tribute
Labour leader Keir Starmer has taken to Twitter to pay tribute to Clare Drakeford.
He said: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Clare Drakeford.
“On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I send our deepest condolences to Mark and all the family.
“They are all in our thoughts and prayers.”
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Who was Clare Drakeford?
Clare had been married to the Welsh Labour Leader since 1977.
The pair had three children together.
Last year Mr Drakeford revealed he had been separated from his “vulnerable” wife for much of the pandemic.
The pair had lived in separate homes in order to “keep her safe”.
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‘My heart is absolutely breaking’
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price tweeted: “My heart is absolutely breaking for @PrifWeinidog after hearing of the sudden passing of his wife, Clare Drakeford.
“I know how close you were and there are no words to describe the pain you must be feeling. My thoughts are with you and your family. We’re all here for you Mark.”