Queen joins Rivals stars to pay respects to longstanding friend Dame Jilly Cooper at memorial

The Queen was among a list of well-known faces who paid their respects to Dame Jilly Cooper at a memorial in London on Friday.

The legendary author died unexpectedly in October at the age of 88 from injuries sustained from a fall.

On Friday, stars from the film, sport and literary worlds turned out to pay their respects.

In attendance were actors Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Bella Maclean and Victoria Smurfit, who star in Disney TV show Rivals. The show is adapted from Cooper's 1988 novel of the same name.

Arsenal legend Tony Adams, comedian Helen Lederer and actress Lisa Maxwell were among the first to arrive.

Dame Jilly Cooper's literary agent Felicity Blunt also arrived alongside her husband, actor Stanley Tucci. Blunt wore a tote bag that said "I love Jilly Cooper" on it.

Tucci paid tribute to the late author, telling reporters: "She lived an incredible life.

"She also changed the lives of so many people for the better with her books, my wife being one of them.

"She was an extraordinary person, a brilliant writer, nice person and naughty."

Queen Camilla, a longstanding friend of Cooper's, wore a blue coat dress to the memorial.

The pair had a close friendship, with the Queen telling a literary festival shortly after her death: "She came to a party here a few years ago where, I hope, she uttered her immortal line, 'I'm going to get so absolutely plastered tonight, darling. I love you so much, I want to see two of you'.

"Dear Jilly, how we'd love to have seen just one of you here with us today."

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The Queen's former husband, Andrew Parker-Bowles, and their son Tom were also in attendance.

In a touching moment, the Queen posed with a picture of Cooper alongside the Dean of Southwark, Mark Oakley.

As the day wore on, other famous names from sport and TV arrived - including broadcasters Gyles Brandreth and Clare Balding.

(c) Sky News 2026: Queen joins Rivals stars to pay respects to longstanding friend Dame Jilly Cooper at memorial