Queen Camilla travelled to Bristol to visit the set of Rivals, the acclaimed Disney+ adaptation of the novel penned by her close friend Dame Jilly Cooper.
The Queen, accompanied by her daughter Laura, spent time with the late author’s relatives during her tour of the production currently filming its second series.
Reflecting on Dame Jilly’s absence, the Queen expressed her sorrow: “It’s so sad that she’s not here. She should be. I am so excited to be here. She would have loved it.”
The beloved author passed away in October following a fall. At the time, the Queen released a personal tribute concluding: “May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
Queen Camilla travelled to Bristol to visit the set of Rivals, the acclaimed Disney+ adaptation of the novel penned by her close friend Dame Jilly Cooper.
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During her visit, the Queen encountered several of the programme’s stars, including Alex Hassell, who takes on the role of Rupert Campbell-Black, and Aidan Turner, cast as Declan O’Hara.
She also met Bella Maclean, Victoria Smurfit and Nafessa Williams, who portray Taggie, Maud O’Hara and Cameron Cook respectively.
The BAFTA-winning production design team and hair and make-up artists were introduced to the royal visitor.
While set photographs remain under wraps to avoid spoilers, the Queen would have recognised familiar locations including Bar Sinister, the Corinium corridors and the O’Hara family’s priory kitchen.
The Queen, accompanied by her daughter Laura, spent time with the late author’s relatives during her tour of the production currently filming its second series.
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She was also shown costumes reflecting the distinctive 1980s aesthetic central to the series.
The production team behind Rivals has worked alongside The King’s Foundation, with an alumnus of the Foundation showcasing pieces created for the series during the Queen’s visit.
Royal officials informed the Queen that the show’s production has provided a significant boost to creative industries across the South West region.
The programme has generated training opportunities and career pathways for young people in the area.
The original novel was published in 1988, and during her behind-the-scenes tour, the Queen observed filming of a scene drawn directly from the book.
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The second series has been characterised as plunging “headfirst into the cut-throat world of TV where hair-dos are big and ambitions are even bigger” and features mature content throughout.
Dame Jilly Cooper served as an executive producer on the series, which first premiered in October 2024.
The programme has since garnered considerable acclaim, securing 11 awards and earning 32 nominations, among them an International Emmy for Best Drama Series last month.
Set against the backdrop of mid-1980s Gloucestershire, the drama centres on fierce competition between characters vying for control of a local independent television franchise.
The original novel was published in 1988, and during her behind-the-scenes tour, the Queen observed filming of a scene drawn directly from the book.