RIVALS stars have arrived for a memorial service in honour of Dame Jilly Cooper.
Dame Jilly, known for her “bonkbusters” including Riders, Rivals and Polo, was found by her family in Gloucestershire on October 4.
The much-loved writer sadly passed away a day after sustaining a fatal head injury during a fall at her home.
A memorial is being held today at Southwark Cathedral, in London, where former football player Tony Adams, comedian Helen Lederer and actress Lisa Maxwell were seen showing support.
Emma King and Alex Hassell also attend the poignant memorial this morning.
Rivals stars Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer were spotted.
Dame Jilly sold over 11million copies of her books in the UK alone.
Her steamy novels often portrayed the scandals and sex lives of wealthy country social circles.
After her death, tributes flooded in for the writer, led by her devastated children Felix and Emily.
They said: “Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.
“Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.
“Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.
“We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can’t begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all
around us.”
Queen Camilla also paid tribute to Dame Jilly following the tragedy.
She said: “I was so saddened to learn of Dame Jilly’s death last night.
“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.
“In person she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many – and it was a particular pleasure to see her just a few weeks ago at my Queen’s Reading Room Festival where she was, as ever, a star of the show.
“I join my husband The King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family.
“And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
Dame Jilly, who was dubbed ‘Queen of the bonkbuster’ for her raunchy novels, published her first book, How To Stay Married, in 1969.
This was quickly followed by a guide, How to Survive From Nine To Five, in 1970.
Her fourteenth novel, Pandora, was published in 2002 and spent 19 weeks on the bestseller list.
Probably her most famous book is Riders, which was published in 1985.
Her book Rivals was recently adapted as a hit television series by Disney+ starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson.
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