Queen Camilla Remembers Dame Jilly Cooper

Queen Camilla recently spoke at the Cliveden Literary Festival in Berkshire, where she shared a wistful but mischievous memory of her long-time friend Dame Jilly Cooper. This took place just six days after the author’s death at the age of 88.

A Fond Memory

Queen Camilla fondly recalled an anecdote about Dame Jilly, remembering a party where Dame Jilly uttered her immortal line: "I’m going to be so worn out tonight, darling. I love you so much, I want to see two of you." The Queen’s recollection was met with laughter from the audience, and she added, "Dear Jilly, how we wish we could have seen just one of you here with us today."

Shared Interests

The Queen also revealed that Dame Jilly was a fan of the Vesper Martini, a drink invented by author Ian Fleming as James Bond’s favorite drink. This shared interest highlights the special bond between Queen Camilla and Dame Jilly.

The Cliveden Literary Festival

At the festival, Queen Camilla met the founders and panelists, officially opening the event and giving a speech about the importance of reading and studying literature. She also hosted a reception in the French Dining Room, attended by notable authors such as Sir Salman Rushdie and Sir Ian Rankin.

Tributes to Dame Jilly

Earlier in the week, Queen Camilla led tributes to Dame Jilly, who died after a fall. In a statement, she expressed her hope that Dame Jilly’s future would be filled with "incredibly handsome men and devoted dogs." Since Dame Jilly’s death, Queen Camilla has been filled with great love and affection for her friend.

Memories from Other Authors

Other authors at the festival also shared their love and affection for Dame Jilly. Sir Ian Rankin spoke to reporters about his experience reading Dame Jilly’s novel Rivals, saying he "loved it." He also shared that he had met Dame Jilly several times and they had stayed in touch, exchanging beautiful letters and cards. Sir Salman Rushdie simply described Dame Jilly’s passing as "a sad loss."