The contents of Dame Jilly Cooper's will have been shared, revealing that at the time of her death in October 2025, the legendary author had a gross estate of £9,070,307, with a net value of £8,557,118.
The author left her two children, Felix and Emily, and her stepdaughter, Laura Cooper, equal shares of her fortune, with probate being granted on 18 June 2026.
The will also featured a small joke, claiming that Dame Jilly's profession was as a "polo player". The author's steamy romance novels often focused on the exploits of polo players involved in the aristocracy.
Dame Jilly's death
Jilly died at the age of 88 on 5 October 2025 following a fall at her home. The death was confirmed by her children, who said in a statement: "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."
© GettyAmong those who paid tribute to the late author was Queen Camilla, who counted Dame Jilly as one of her friends. "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," she said at the time.
Camilla also paid tribute to the author at a Thanksgiving Service for her life. Among those also at the Southwark Cathedral service were Rivals stars David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson. Others in attendance are Dame Jilly’s literary agent Felicity Blunt and her husband, actor Stanley Tucci.
© Getty ImagesIn 1985, Jilly published her breakthrough novel Riders, followed by Rivals in 1988. Through the 1980s, she became firmly established as the queen of the "bonkbuster" genre with her Rutshire Chronicles series.
Riders, inspired by the glamorous world of showjumping, introduced readers to Rupert Campbell-Black and Jake Lovell – characters who became household names. She then followed it with Rivals, set in the cut-throat world of television, which is now a major Disney+ series.
