Dame Jilly Cooper left a gross estate of £9,070,307 in her will, with a net value of £8,557,118 after liabilities. Her two children, Felix and Emily, and her stepdaughter Laura will each receive an equal share, according to The Sun.
Cause of Death and Family Response
Cooper died in October at age 88 after suffering a fatal head injury from a fall at her Gloucestershire home. She was found by family at about 5pm on October 4. A coroner determined the cause as a traumatic subdural haematoma. Senior coroner Katy Skerrett said: "The circumstances surrounding her tragic death were she had suffered an unwitnessed fall at her home address on October 4. She fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury."
Her children Emily and Felix announced her death, stating: "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."
Legacy and Tributes
Cooper, author of Riders and Rivals, received tributes from stars of the Disney+ adaptation and Queen Camilla. Actor Alex Hassell, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black, said: "We're all devastated. She was on set just the week before... Her voice and her character and her sense of creativity were such a huge driving force of the show."
Cooper visited the Rivals set just days before her death. The coroner confirmed no suspicious circumstances, noting: "The medical opinion was that this head injury was unfortunately catastrophic and therefore likely a terminal event."
