Tributes have poured in for Dame Jilly Cooper, the beloved British novelist famed for her sharp wit and bestselling “bonkbuster” novels, following her death at the age of 88.
Gatekeepers News reports that Queen Camilla led the tributes to her close friend, praising the late author as “wonderfully witty and compassionate” and celebrating her extraordinary literary legacy.
“Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime, but Jilly was one — creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades,” the Queen wrote in a heartfelt message.
She added: “May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
Cooper died on Sunday morning after suffering a fall, her family confirmed. Her children, Felix and Emily, said her passing came as a “complete shock,” describing her as “a shining light in our lives.”
Beginning her career as a journalist, Cooper published her first book, How to Stay Married, in 1969 before becoming one of Britain’s most successful authors. She sold more than 11 million copies of her novels in the UK, earning fame for her racy and humorous depictions of love, class, and ambition in the fictional world of Rutshire.
Her most celebrated works include Riders, Rivals, and Polo — part of The Rutshire Chronicles series that defined a generation of popular British fiction.
In 2024, her novel Rivals was adapted into a hit Disney+ TV series starring David Tennant, introducing her iconic characters to a new audience.
