Queen Camilla attends memorial service for Jilly Cooper following her death
Dame Jilly died in October at the age of 88Queen Camilla has attended a memorial service in honour of Dame Jilly Cooper following her death last year.
The best-selling author was known for her series of romantic novels, including Rivals and Riders. The books portrayed the scandals and sex lives of wealthy country social circles. A TV adaptation of Rivals premiered on Disney+ in 2024.
Jilly died in October last year at the age of 88. An inquest into her death confirmed that she had died after sustaining injuries from a fall.
On Friday (January 30), Queen Camilla, 78, joined many celebrities to pay tribute to Dame Jilly.
Queen Camilla attends memorial service for Dame Jilly Cooper
The memorial service took place at Southwark Cathedral in London. Many celebrity stars attended the service, including the cast of Rivals.
These included Katherine Parkinson and Alex Hassell, who played Lizzie Vereker and Rupert Campbell Black.
Rivals stars Danny Dyer, David Tennant and Bella Maclean were also present.
Meanwhile, other famous faces at the service included Clare Balding, Aidan Turner and Joanna Lumley.
Queen Camilla arrived at the service in a blue dress coat, as she was welcomed by the Very Rev Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark.
On display outside the cathedral was a picture of Dame Jilly, which Camilla viewed.
Queen Camilla’s tribute to ‘wonderfully witty friend’ Jilly
In October, Queen Camilla paid tribute to Jilly as she described her as a “compassionate friend”.
She said: “Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime. But Jilly was one. In person, she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many.”
She recalled their recent encounter at The Queen’s Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Jilly had been a featured guest at the event in September 2025.
Camilla added: “It was a particular pleasure to see her… where she was, as ever, a star of the show. May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
Dame Jilly on ‘beautiful card’ from Camilla
Dame Jilly received her damehood from King Charles in 2024 at Windsor Castle. It was for her services to literature and charity.
The author revealed she received a card from Queen Camilla to congratulate her.
Speaking to HELLO! in January 2024 Dame Jilly said: “Among my favourite messages was a beautiful card from Queen Camilla. I also received a lovely telephone call from her former husband Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, who has helped me with so many of my books. And darling Dame Joanna Lumley, who starred in a TV series I wrote many years ago.”
Leave your tributes to Dame Jilly Cooper on our Royal Insider Facebook page.
