Key Points
- Queen Camilla, Dame Joanna Lumley, and David Tennant attended the memorial service for Dame Jilly Cooper at London’s Southwark Cathedral.
- Dame Jilly Cooper, renowned for best-selling novels like Rivals and Riders, died unexpectedly aged 88 in October 2025 after injuries from a fall.
- Dame Joanna Lumley described the service as “very touching, sometimes very funny, just sometimes very moving and very beautiful” and called Dame Jilly “an extraordinary woman”.
- Other attendees included Dame Jilly’s agent Felicity Blunt and her husband actor Stanley Tucci, Rupert Everett, Clare Balding, ex-footballer Tony Adams, and comedian Rory Bremner.
- The Queen was welcomed by the Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Mark Oakley, and paused to view a picture of the author with a dog on an easel by the door.
- The Dean described Dame Jilly as “a person with a champagne soul, of good vintage and sparkling for all its worth” and “full of light, she lit up places and people, a collage of rare humane qualities, and a friend who brought comfort, compassion, and excitement”.
- Rivals stars present included Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, and Katherine Parkinson; actor Danny Dyer called the service “wonderful”.
- According to the order of service, Rivals stars Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean read an extract from the novel, while Dame Joanna Lumley read from the diary anthology The Common Years.
- Dame Jilly’s Rutshire Chronicles, starting with Riders in 1985, depicted scandals, sex lives, and social circles of the wealthy horse-loving country set; Rivals (1988) gained new fans via a 2024 Disney+ adaptation.
- Queen Camilla visited the Rivals cast and crew last month during filming for the show’s second season.
- Felicity Blunt, who previously called Dame Jilly “emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun”, carried a tote bag reading “I love Jilly Cooper”.
- Dame Jilly sold more than 11 million books in the UK alone.
London (South London News) January 31, 2026 – Queen Camilla, Dame Joanna Lumley, and David Tennant joined a host of celebrities and dignitaries at Southwark Cathedral for a poignant memorial service honouring the late Dame Jilly Cooper, the beloved novelist who died unexpectedly in October 2025 aged 88 following injuries sustained in a fall.
Who Attended Dame Jilly Cooper’s Memorial Service?
The service drew an array of prominent figures from literature, entertainment, and royalty. Queen Camilla arrived to a warm welcome from the Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Mark Oakley, outside the cathedral; she paused to gaze at a large picture of Dame Jilly with a dog displayed on an easel by the entrance, reflecting the author’s well-known love of animals. Among the guests were Dame Joanna Lumley, David Tennant, Dame Jilly’s literary agent Felicity Blunt accompanied by her husband, the actor Stanley Tucci, as well as Rupert Everett, broadcaster Clare Balding, former footballer Tony Adams, and comedian Rory Bremner. Stars from the Disney+ adaptation of Rivals also paid tribute, including Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, and Katherine Parkinson.
What Made the Memorial Service So Touching?
Dame Joanna Lumley, a close friend of the author, praised Dame Jilly as “an extraordinary woman” following the event. She described Friday’s service as
“very touching, sometimes very funny, just sometimes very moving and very beautiful”,
capturing its blend of humour, emotion, and elegance. Actor Danny Dyer, known for his role in the Rivals series, echoed this sentiment afterwards, calling the service “wonderful”.
The Very Rev Mark Oakley set a sparkling tone in his address, portraying Dame Jilly as “a person with a champagne soul, of good vintage and sparkling for all its worth”. He continued, “Full of light, she lit up places and people, a collage of rare humane qualities, and a friend who brought comfort, compassion, and excitement”, offering a vivid tribute to her vibrant personality and enduring impact.
Why Was the Order of Service Significant?
The ceremony’s programme highlighted Dame Jilly’s literary legacy through specially chosen readings. According to the order of service, Rivals actors Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean recited an extract from the novel itself, bringing her words to life once more. Dame Joanna Lumley contributed by reading from the diary anthology The Common Years, a work reflective of the author’s observational wit and warmth.
Felicity Blunt, Dame Jilly’s long-time agent, made a subtle yet poignant statement by carrying a tote bag emblazoned with “I love Jilly Cooper”. Blunt had previously described the author as
“emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun”,
words that resonated deeply amid the gathering.
How Did Dame Jilly Cooper’s Career Shape the Event?
Dame Jilly’s most celebrated works, the Rutshire Chronicles, began with Riders in 1985, chronicling the scandals, sex lives, and intricate social circles of Britain’s wealthy, horse-loving rural elite. The series’ follow-up, Rivals, published in 1988, captivated a fresh audience in 2024 through its acclaimed Disney+ television adaptation, blending scandalous romance with sharp social satire.
Queen Camilla’s personal connection to the works added royal resonance; she visited the Rivals cast and crew just last month while they filmed the second season, underscoring the series’ cultural revival. Overall, Dame Jilly sold more than 11 million books in the UK alone, cementing her status as a titan of popular fiction whose romps entertained generations.
When and Where Did Dame Jilly Cooper Pass Away?
Dame Jilly Cooper died unexpectedly on an unspecified date in October 2025, aged 88, after sustaining injuries from a fall. Her sudden departure shocked fans and peers alike, prompting this memorial at the historic Southwark Cathedral in London, a venue befitting her stature. The service took place on Friday, aligning with the outpouring of tributes that followed her death.
What Legacy Does Dame Jilly Cooper Leave Behind?
The memorial not only celebrated Dame Jilly’s literary achievements but also her personal charisma, evident in the diverse assembly of admirers from stage, screen, sport, and society. Her novels’ enduring appeal—marked by their unapologetic exploration of upper-class excesses—found new life in modern adaptations, ensuring her influence persists. As the Dean’s words evoked, she remains a beacon of joy and humanity, her books a testament to a career spanning decades of best-sellers.
The event’s intimate yet star-studded nature reflected the breadth of her friendships and fandom. From royalty pausing at her portrait to actors voicing her prose, the service wove together her life’s threads: literature, laughter, loyalty to animals, and unbridled zest. Reports from those present emphasise a gathering that mirrored her own sparkling essence—effervescent, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable.
In the weeks since her passing, reflections on Dame Jilly’s contributions have filled columns and airwaves, but none captured the collective affection quite like this cathedral farewell. Her agent’s tote bag, a simple accessory amid the grandeur, symbolised the personal devotion she inspired. Sales figures alone—over 11 million in the UK—underscore a commercial triumph matched by emotional resonance, her characters’ escapades still delighting readers young and old.
Queen Camilla’s attendance, fresh from supporting the Rivals production, signals institutional endorsement of Cooper’s world, bridging literary heritage with contemporary screen success. Attendees like David Tennant and Aidan Turner represent a generational handover, their presence affirming how Riders and kin transcend eras. Even sportsman Tony Adams and satirist Rory Bremner highlight her crossover appeal, drawing in those beyond bookish circles.
The Dean’s eulogy, rich in metaphor, distils her essence: champagne-like effervescence amid life’s gravity. Dame Joanna’s verdict—touching, funny, moving—encapsulates a service scripted by friendship, not formality. Danny Dyer’s succinct “wonderful” cuts through, a working-class nod to an upper-crust chronicler who charmed all.
As Southwark’s bells likely tolled post-service, the image lingers: a dog’s portrait greeting the Queen, Felicity Blunt’s bag proclaiming love eternal. Dame Jilly Cooper’s memorial was no mere goodbye but a lively encore, her spirit as vivid as her prose. Fans worldwide, buoyed by Rutshire‘s scandals, will carry her forward—11 million copies strong, and counting.
