Noor NanjiCulture reporter at Cliveden Literary Festival
The Queen has shared a wistful but mischievous memory of her longstanding friend Dame Jilly Cooper, as she spoke at a book festival six days after the author’s death at the age of 88.
Speaking at the Cliveden Literary Festival in Berkshire, Queen Camilla affectionately recalled an anecdote about Dame Jilly.
“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’,” she said, to laughter in the room.
“Dear Jilly, how we’d love to have seen just one of you here with us today.”
The Queen also revealed that the Vesper Martini, which was invented by author Ian Fleming as James Bond’s drink of choice, was a favourite tipple of the “much missed” Dame Jilly.
At the event, Queen Camilla met the festival’s founders and panellists.
She then officially opened the festival, delivering a speech before a panel discussion on the importance of reading and studying literature.
Queen Camilla then hosted a reception in the French Dining Room, with attendees including Sir Salman Rushdie and Sir Ian Rankin.
Earlier in the week, Queen Camilla led the tributes to Dame Jilly, who died after a fall.
In a statement, she said she hoped her hereafter would be filled “with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs”.
Since Dame Jilly’s death, there has been an outpouring of love for her.
Many of the themes that dominated her so-called bonkbusters – sex, affection and horses – have been central to those tributes.
At the festival, others shared their love and affection for Dame Jilly.
Speaking to reporters, Sir Ian said he had read her novel Rivals and “loved it”.
He said he had met her multiple times, and that they had kept in touch.
“I got lovely letters from her, long letters and cards and everything , I think my wife was quite worried at one point,” he joked.
He added that she was a “terrific writer,” while Sir Salman simply said it was “a sad loss”.
