The Queen has expressed her sadness at the death of author Lord Jeffrey Archer, describing him as “not without flaw” but an “irrepressible life force through all the many differing chapters of his life”.
Life and career
The former Conservative MP turned bestselling writer, who was imprisoned for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001, died suddenly on Monday at the age 86.
Lord Archer had a successful career as a novelist alongside politics and was made a life peer in 1992 as Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, becoming the Conservatives’ choice to fight for the party in the first London mayoral election.
His campaign ended when his political career crashed in 2001 when he was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Queen's message
Camilla, in her message of condolence as founder of the Queen’s Reading Room charity, of which Lord Archer was a supporter, said that “wherever the next page turns to”, she wished him “champagne and shepherd’s pie in abundance” – a nod to the famous parties he used to host.
Camilla said: “Seldom does an author get to live a life as rich, varied and colourful as any of the characters in their books, or with as many surprising plot twists.
“Jeffrey Archer was an exception to the end.
“It was therefore with sadness that I learned of his death yesterday, on the eve of publication of his final work and so soon after appearing at my Queen’s Reading Room Festival.
“My sympathies go to Mary and the family at this time of sorrow. I hope it may be some consolation for them to know what pleasure Jeffrey brought to me and to so many millions of readers through the pages of his works.
“While he was not without flaw, his friends will recall him as an irrepressible life force through all the many differing chapters of his life.
“Wherever the next page turns to, I trust there will be champagne and shepherd’s pie in abundance.”
The message ended with “Camilla R”.
