Queen Camilla joined stars from the hit TV show Rivals at a memorial service celebrating the life of Dame Jilly Cooper at Southwark Cathedral in central London. The author died unexpectedly in October at age 88 after sustaining injuries from a fall.
Dame Jilly's fictional character Rupert Campbell-Black, a seducer and showjumper from The Rutshire Chronicles, is said to be partly based on the Queen's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles. Camilla previously described Dame Jilly as a 'wonderfully witty and compassionate friend' and a writing 'legend'.
Among the attendees were Rivals stars David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, and Katherine Parkinson. Dyer called the service 'wonderful', while Tennant described it as 'beautiful'. Smurfit paid tribute, saying 'we have lost a ray of sunshine' and expressed gratitude for having been part of Dame Jilly's world.
Other notable guests included Dame Joanna Lumley, actor Rupert Everett, former footballer Tony Adams, actress Lisa Maxwell, and comedian Helen Lederer. Dame Jilly's literary agent Felicity Blunt attended with her husband, actor Stanley Tucci, who praised the author's incredible life and her impact on readers.
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, a friend of nearly 60 years, remembered Dame Jilly as 'fabulous' and 'amazing', saying 'champagne is being popped in heaven today'. Alan Titchmarsh, a friend for 40 years, described her as 'hugely genuine' and said the service was a way of saying thank you.
