The Queen has expressed profound sadness over the absence of her late friend, Dame Jilly Cooper, during a visit to the set of the dramatisation of Cooper’s bestselling novel, Rivals. Camilla toured the studios in Bristol, meeting the cast and crew behind the award-winning Disney+ series, lamenting that a woman who meant so much to her was not there.
The visit to the production of the second series had been arranged prior to Dame Jilly’s death in October. Speaking with Dame Jilly’s son, Felix Cooper, and daughter Emily Tarrant, the Queen shared her grief, stating: "She was such a big part of my life for such a long time. We all miss her so much." She conveyed similar sentiments to show writer and producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins, also a close friend of the author, remarking: "It’s so sad she’s not here."
Set in the 1980s against the picturesque backdrop of the Cotswolds, Rivals delves into the high-stakes world of British television, where careers, marriages, and reputations are precariously balanced as professional and personal lives intertwine.
Among the cast members introduced to the Queen were David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, and Nafessa Williams. They gathered for tea and fruit cake in the O’Hara kitchen, where Hassell fondly recalled Dame Jilly’s visits: "She would tell all the men here that they were sexy every time she came." The Queen responded with a smile, "It’s very nice. It boosts your confidence."
Smurfit enquired if Camilla had read all of her friend’s novels upon their initial publication. "Of course I did. Jilly used to give me a copy and I used to gallop through them," the Queen confirmed. When asked if she would "fact check them for just how delicious the men were," Camilla burst into laughter, replying, "No." She added, "Interesting moments… it’s just good fun and I think nowadays people want things that are good fun. People want to be lifted and be able to have a good laugh." The Queen also revealed her personal connection to the series: "I remember watching last year when I was ill, I had pneumonia, and I promise you, after watching it, I binge watched it, I felt much better after. I’m looking forward to this one coming out."
Filming for the extended 12-episode second series commenced in May, with its return anticipated in 2026. Tennant stars as TV mogul Lord Tony Baddingham, Hassell as the lothario Rupert Campbell-Black, and Maclean as Taggie O’Hara. Williams portrays producer Cameron Cook, Smurfit plays Maud O’Hara, and Aidan Turner features as her husband Declan. The new series will see Lord Baddingham relentlessly striving to maintain his TV company Corinium’s unrivalled empire.
Dame Jilly died in October at the age of 88 following a fatal head injury sustained in a fall at her Gloucestershire home. Following her passing, the Queen paid tribute, describing her as a "legend" and a "wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many." The pair shared a long-standing friendship, with the author famously basing her fictional seducer and showjumping lothario Campbell-Black partly on the Queen’s ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.
During her visit, Camilla also explored the costume department, admiring outfits and designs that capture the distinctive 1980s style. Before her departure, the Queen received an "I love Jilly Cooper" bag, containing a cushion embroidered with "Revenge is a dish best served on television," a Master Dog mug, a Corinium mug, a Corinium Christmas tree decoration, and a World of Rutshire tea towel.
Thanking the Queen for her visit, Treadwell-Collins said: "It’s been an honour having you here today. Our most important person isn’t here today, our Queen Jilly, who was so excited about you coming. We’ve been devastated about her, and a little bit of our heart isn’t here today. I know she’s watching down on us today with devoted dogs, incredibly handsome men, and wondering when we’re going to open the wine. It’s been really, really special having you here and we hope to continue Jilly’s legacy and with Disney’s help keep telling her stories."
The first series, featuring an all-star cast, premiered in October 2024, becoming Disney+’s most successful general entertainment launch in the UK. It has garnered international acclaim, securing 11 award wins and 32 nominations, including an International Emmy for best drama series in November.
Speaking afterwards, Smurfit described the Queen’s visit as wonderful. "She is not only a real fan, but you’ve got to remember this was written and invented by her very best friend, Dame Jilly Cooper," she noted. "And when the plan was for her to come down, of course, Jilly was going to be with us. So it was very important for us. Yes, she is the Queen, of course, but she’s also our Queen’s best friend and that makes it sort of very human and delicious." Smurfit added that Dame Jilly took a keen interest in every detail of the production. "What a consummate professional, she left us having ticked the boxes, dotted the Is and crossed the Ts," the actor said. "We miss her every day but it’s funny for us, as we don’t believe that she’s gone because we’re in her world every day." She concluded, "I have literally had the legs taken out from under me by the people who have watched it. I was amazed there was no age bracket that doesn’t come up to you and say, ‘I binge watched it’."
