They lived in Cardiff at the time of her death. Waless first minister, Mark Drakeford, with his wife, Clare, pictured in May 2022. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. ", Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, GMB's Kate Garraway reveals crippling cost of caring for her husband Derek, Stephen Bear 'broke behind bars' as his company is shut down before he's jailed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on heathland, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Mark Drakeford returns to the Senedd for the first time since the passing of his wife Clare. The wife of Waless First Minister Mark Drakeford has died suddenly, the Welsh Government said. The couple lived apart during much of the COVID pandemic, with Mr Drakeford staying in a building at the end of the couple's garden to allow him to carry on work while his wife remained at the house with his elderly mother-in-law, who was shielding. The Presiding Officer of the Senedd, Ceredigion MS Elin Jones, added: "As a Senedd we are deeply saddened to learn of Clare Drakeford's passing. Drakeford said he had been living in a separate building in the garden of his family home while his wife stayed inside the main home. Were all here for you Mark., Responding to the news, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, Jane Dodds, said: My thoughts are with the first minister and his family at this very difficult time.. Downing Street said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had passed on his deepest condolences to Mr Drakeford privately. Clare Drakeford, wife of Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, has died suddenly at the age of 71, the Welsh government has said. Welsh politicians have held a moment's silence for First Minister Mark Drakeford's wife, Clare, in the Senedd chamber after she died suddenly. 2023 BBC. The couple were living in Cardiff at the time of Mrs Drakeford's death. The First Minister moved out of his home into a building in his garden to keep his family safe during the Coronavirus pandemic. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford with his wife Clare, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Labour & Co-op MP for Lewisham East, Janet Daby, has joined hundreds of others in paying tribute to Clare Drakeford today. The old couple got married way They lived in Cardiff at the time of her death. living in a separate building in the garden of his family home, Welsh Labour the 'most successful party in the democratic world', Mum 'in tears' as family is thrown out of theatre's panto performance, The theatre has now apologised and admitted they got it wrong, Mum loses custody of six-year-old daughter after 'bleak' neglect, Cardiff family court heard the little girl still drinks milk from a baby bottle, wears pull-up nappies, and is often awake through the night in a room with no lightbulb in what the judge described as a 'bleak picture', Remains of baby in Constance Marten case were found in a plastic bag under nappies in a shed, court told, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have appeared in court, Met Office issue yellow weather warning for snow as maps show where it will fall in the UK, Yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued for parts of the UK as Arctic winds bring snow, Minister leading roads freeze has claimed for nearly 12,000 miles of car journeys but only three train trips, Welsh Government deputy minister Lee Waters wants people to take public transport instead of driving, Plaid Cymru calls for Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan to be sacked, "Time and again, shes evaded scrutiny and shifted blame onto others when challenged with the disastrous outcomes of her own policies", Man smashed one victim's teeth and broke her nose in brutal attack on two women, Petr Priessnitz fled the UK and was sentenced in his absence, What a new political poll in Wales shows as people turn away from the Tories, The Beaufort Research poll underlines the public's alienation from the governing party, Live: Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Saturday, March 4), All of the latest news from across Wales and further afield, The five most-reported types of fraud you need to be aware of, Consumers lost more than 2 billion to scams last year, BBC The Apprentice: Why Bradley Johnson didn't leave in a taxi despite being fired, Bradley Johnson and Avi Sharma were chosen as the next candidates to leave Lord Sugar's boardroom, Man had sex with his wife on a bollard after heated cul-de-sac parking argument, Lee Craig McConnell also masturbated in front of his house, Cardiff City v Bristol City Live: Kick-off time, TV channel and team news, Follow all the action from the Severnside derby clash in Cardiff, Rugby's 'quickest try of all time' scored from kick-off as commentators stunned, The try came within just nine seconds of the kick-off, Young Wales international now working on a building site after rugby's turmoil leaves him unemployed, This time last term his career in professional rugby appeared to be taking off, but fate wasn't to be kind to the lad from west Wales, First look at Pasture's new small plates restaurant and speakeasy bar Parallel, Parallel can be found next door to Pasture on Cardiff's High Street, Man who infamously taunted police while on the run sent back behind bars, Matthew Maynard once sent his local paper a 'better' picture of himself because he didn't like the wanted mugshot police had issued, Farmer's long battle to protect his home and livelihood from developers that never seems to end, Gethin Jenkins' family farm has taken a step closer to being saved, but he's well aware the battle may not be over yet, Grand former prime minister's family country home with astounding views and huge chessboard in the garden, Historic handsome house now a comfortable and welcoming homes packed with character and drenched in sunlight, Wales duo wanted by same club and Warburton makes Italy favourites, The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond, Dozens of drivers caught without seatbelts in 90-minute police sting, There was a large police presence in Llandaff North, Cardiff, on Friday morning, Car crashes into house before driver flees scene, Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for witnesses, Nine-storey apartment block planned for Cardiff city centre, The proposed development would see a long-standing garage and car wash demolished. Rarely in the limelight with her famous partner, the 66-year-old led a private life. W & C.", The First Minister of Scotland and SNP Leader, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "My thoughts are with Mark and his family at this terribly sad time. Clare Buckle and Drakeford has been married for 46 years. The couple were living in Cardiff at the time of Mrs Drakeford's death. 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. How often should you change your sheets - more than you think! To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Drakeford, who has been the first minister of Wales since 2018, has rarely spoken about his family life but in February 2021, he revealed he had been isolating from his wife for most of 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic in order to keep her and her elderly mother safe while they were shielding. Mark and Clare Drakeford had been married for 46 years. PRINCE William, Princess Kate and Boris Johnson have paid their respects after the tragic passing of Mark Drakeford's wife Clare. WebMark Drakeford. The pair had lived in separate homes in order to "keep her safe". "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.". "The strong leader Mark is today is in large part because of Mrs Drakeford's quiet and steadfast support, for which we will always be grateful.". Flood management in Powys brought up in the Senedd after heavy rain. The University community is saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mrs Clare Drakeford. Burns Night 2022: Where was Robert Burns born, why is he celebrated? Speaking on an ITV Wales podcast, the first minister said: It is a bit emotional. The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, also joined in, saying: "I am sure you will all join me in sending deepest condolences to @MarkDrakeford on the sudden passing of his beloved wife, Clare. I know how committed Mark and Clare were to each other. The Prince and Princess of Wales have Tweeted: "Sending our thoughts and prayers to Mark Drakeford and his family. Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said: "So shocked and so very sad at the news of Clare Drakeford's death. Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central, expressed: "So shocked and so very sad at the news of Clare Drakeford's death. Flood management in Powys brought up in the Senedd after heavy rain. Mr Drakeford, who became first minister in 2018 and was reappointed to the post in May 2021, later described their reunion as "a bit emotional". Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, responding to the news in a post on Twitter, said she was sending her Welsh counterpart "love and strength". Labour leader Keir Starmer sends his condolences to Mark Drakeford for the loss of his wife. My thoughts are with you and your family. He also said he was hesitant about running to be first minister when Carwyn Jones stepped down in 2018 because of the potential impact on his family. Who is Mark Drakefords wife? Our deepest condolences to Mr Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, and his family. While it is known the pair share three grown-up children together, there are few details to unearth about the Welsh First Ministers partner. 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. Speaking about their reconciliation after his self-imposed isolation ended, he said: "Ive 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. Mr Drakefords wife of almost 50 years revealed little about herself to the public. ''Our deepest condolences to Mr Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, and his family.''. Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images Clare Drakeford, the wife of Waless first minister, Mark Drakeford, has died suddenly, the Welsh government announced on Saturday. A Welsh government spokesperson said: It is with deep sadness that we confirm the sudden passing of Clare Drakeford, wife of the first minister. Mark and Clare Drakeford were married in 1977 and have three children together. Clare Drakeford, who is the wife of Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford, has died suddenly, the Welsh Government has announced. Since tying the knot in 1977, Clare Drakeford welcomed three children with the Welsh Government leader and continued to support her husbands ministerial ventures after almost a decade in Cabinet. "On behalf of everyone in the Welsh Liberal Democrats, I extend our deepest condolences to Mark, his family and friends. Despite the former first minister Carwyn Jones arguing it would be overkill, Mr Drakeford raised his own concerns for future ministers who are not local to the countrys capital city. Among those to pay their respects were the ", Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford's wife, Clare, dies. ''They are all in my thoughts and prayers.''. Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies said: "My thoughts and prayers are with Mark Drakeford and his family at this exceptionally difficult time. Ms Jones added: "It's little understood by people outside this chamber but often what pains one of us can pain all of us. WELSH First Minister Mark Drakeford's wife died suddenly today. They attended the private service at Wenallt Chapel in Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff, on Thursday morning, to pay respects to Mark Drakeford's wife Clare, who died suddenly last month age 71. Read about our approach to external linking. Im 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. Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Democratic Socialist Party, tweeted: Words cannot express how heartbroken I am for Mark Drakeford and his family at the death of his wife Clare. While speaking on an ITV Wales podcast, the father of three said: It is a bit emotional. A spokesperson for the Welsh government confirmed "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Speaking to the ITV Wales podcast in August 2021, he said: "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. "On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I send our deepest condolences to Mark and all the family.