Queen Camilla has offered a rather amusing glimpse into what she imagines Dame Jilly Cooper’s afterlife might look like, suggesting the late author is now enjoying the company of “impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs”.
The Queen made the playful observation in a personal message to racegoers attending Cheltenham’s special tribute to the celebrated author, who died last year.
In a message published in Friday’s racecard, Camilla suggested that while Jilly would have been delighted by the plans to honour her at the racecourse, she suspected the author had rather more interesting things occupying her time.
The Queen’s message comes as Cheltenham prepares to celebrate Cooper’s life and enduring affection for racing on Countrywide Day, Friday 13 November.
Among the tributes will be the renaming of the Retreat Bar as The Rutshire Arms, a nod to the fictional world that made Cooper one of Britain’s best-loved authors.
The Queen wrote: “I’m delighted that Cheltenham Racecourse has chosen to pay tribute to the late Dame Jilly Cooper, who is dearly missed by so many of us, near and far.
“Jilly would have loved the fact that an area of the racecourse has been renamed The Rutshire Arms for the weekend as a nod to her work, and would no doubt have been first in the queue to celebrate.
“I wish you all a wonderful time at an occasion that would have put that huge, brilliant smile across Jilly’s face… but I suspect she is busy enjoying her hereafter filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
Signed simply “Camilla R”, the message provides a particularly fitting tribute to an author whose work was synonymous with romance, handsome men, glamorous lifestyles and, of course, a healthy appreciation of dogs.
The celebrations will begin with the unveiling of a memorial bench on the Crescent Walkway at 12.15pm. Overlooking the Parade Ring, it will provide a permanent reminder of Cooper’s affection for Cheltenham and the sport.
The Retreat Bar will become The Rutshire Arms for the weekend, with racegoers also able to enjoy a specially created Rutshire Royale cocktail.
On the track, the Jilly Cooper Veterans’ Handicap Chase will take place at 2.55pm, celebrating her enthusiasm for racing.
Cooper was a regular visitor to Cheltenham and once described her affection for the Festival, praising its atmosphere, the Irish racing fans and the spectacular views across the course.
Her passion for the sport also found its way into her writing. Her 2010 novel Jump! explored the world of jump racing, bringing the characters, rivalries and excitement of the sport to a wider audience.
Simon McMurtrie, Cooper’s friend and executor, will also pay tribute at the unveiling of the memorial bench.
In his address, he reflects on how the author would have relished having a permanent seat overlooking the Parade Ring, where she could enjoy the racing and indulge in her favourite pastime of gossiping about who had been riding whom.
Her children, Felix Cooper and Emily Tarrant, have also welcomed Cheltenham’s plans, recalling how much their mother adored the racing, horses, glamorous people and champagne.
With a memorial bench, a bar bearing the name of one of her most famous creations and a race dedicated to her, Cheltenham is preparing a fitting celebration of Cooper’s extraordinary connection with the sport.
And, if Queen Camilla’s message is anything to go by, the author would have found plenty to smile about – although she might be rather reluctant to leave her new surroundings to join the celebrations.
