Dame Jilly Cooper died from a fatal head injury after falling down a flight of stairs at her Cotswolds home, an inquest has heard.
The 88-year-old writer – known for raunchy novels such as Riders, Rivals and Polo – was found by family at her Grade II listed home in Bisley, Gloucestershire, at around 5pm on October 4.
They called for an ambulance and upon arrival, paramedics found Dame Jilly alert and referring to a ‘severe headache’.
She had no memory of the events prior, but had a ‘vague recollection’ of falling down, the inquest heard.
Dame Jilly’s daughter, Emily Tarrant, believed her mother had fallen down the stairs as a ‘trail of blood’ was found in that area of her home where she lived after the death of her husband Leo in 2013.
She was rushed to hospital where a CT scan revealed she had suffered a ‘catastrophic’ skull fracture.
Doctors heartbreakingly informed her family it was ‘likely a terminal event’ and she was made comfortable.
The author’s condition deteriorated overnight and she died the following morning in hospital surrounded by loved ones.
She had sustained two falls previously in 2018 and September 2024.
Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, reached a conclusion of accidental death and said Dame Jilly died as a result of a traumatic subdural haematoma.
Dame Jilly Cooper died after suffering a fatal head injury during a fall at her Grade II listed home, an inquest has heard
The writer was found by family at her house in Bisley, Gloucestershire, pictured
The coroner 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.
‘There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall. She passed away later, on October 5, with family present.’
The undisputed queen of the ‘bonkbuster’ sold more than 11 million books in the UK alone during her prolific career as one of Britain’s most-popular female writers.
The author is estimated to have left behind a staggering £10million fortune, the Daily Mail revealed last month.
Her best-selling romps portraying the scandals, betrayals and fabulous lifestyles of the horse-loving country set earned her in excess of £5million.
Dame Jilly’s work reached a new generation of fans after Rivals – one of her biggest-selling books – was turned into a smash hit Disney+ series.
The inquest, consisting of written statements read by the coroner, heard Ms Tarrant confirmed her identity to the court in a phone call.
Dame Jilly was born in Hornchurch, Essex, in February 1937 and was a widowed author, the hearing was told.
Ms Tarrant confirmed to coroner’s officer Tony Jones that her mother had fallen at her home in Bisley, near Stroud, on October 4.
The coroner said Dame Jilly was transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where she was ‘initially alert but referring to a severe headache’.
Ms Skerrett said it was believed Dame Jilly had fallen down a flight of stairs ‘as there was a trail of blood’ in that area of her home.
Family called for an ambulance and upon arrival at the home, paramedics found Dame Jilly alert and referring to a ‘severe headache’
The author is estimated to have left behind a staggering £10million fortune, the Daily Mail revealed last month
Dame Jilly pictured with her daughter Emily Tarrant, left, and son Felix Cooper, centre right, and his wife, when the acclaimed author received a Damehood at Windsor Castle last year
An urgent CT scan revealed she had sustained a skull fracture.
‘The medical opinion was that this head injury was unfortunately catastrophic and therefore likely a terminal event,’ Ms Skerrett added.
‘She was made comfortable, her condition sadly thereafter deteriorated and she passed away in the emergency department with family present.’
In a statement, South Western Ambulance Service confirmed it had been called at 5.35pm on October 4 and arrived at Dame Jilly’s home at 5.56pm.
Ms Skerrett said: ‘The patient was able to speak to crew on arrival.
‘She had no direct recollection of events prior. She was unsure how she had fallen. She had a vague recollection of falling down.’
Dr William Nattrass, Dame Jilly’s GP for around 14 years, said in a statement that she had sustained two falls previously, in 2018 and September 2024.
‘Despite slowing mobility, she was managing well and remained as bright and engaging as ever,’ Ms Skerrett read.
Queen Camilla was among those who paid tribute following Dame Jilly’s death last month.
The pair first met when Queen Camilla was married to Andrew Parker Bowles who is said to have been one of the inspirations for rakish aristocrat Rupert Campbell-Black – the central character in the chronicles.
In a touching message, she remembered a woman whom she described as a ‘wonderfully witty and compassionate friend’.
Her Majesty said: ‘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 added: ‘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’s children Felix Cooper and Ms Tarrant also paid tribute to her.
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.’
Dame Jilly’s first novel in the Rutshire series, Riders, was published in 1985.
It made the BBC list of 100 important English language novels in the love, sex and romance selection alongside Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice.
One of her literary fans was former prime minister Rishi Sunak who previously spoke about his favourite books by Dame Jilly, adding that her novels offered a form of ‘escapism’.
Her agent, Felicity Blunt, also paid tribute at the time her death was announced, saying Dame Jilly had ‘defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago’.
‘You wouldn’t expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things – class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility,’ she added.
A new edition of Dame Jilly’s book, How To Survive Christmas, which was first published in 1986, will be released by Transworld on November 13.
Her agent previously confirmed that her funeral would be private, in line with her wishes.
A public service of thanksgiving will be held at Southwark Cathedral at a later date.
