Jilly Cooper funeral details in full - champagne, world-famous orchestra and 'big party'

Beloved author Dame Jilly Cooper, often referred to as the 'queen of the bonkbusters' for her scandalous novels such as Riders and Rivals, has unexpectedly died at the age of 88.

Jilly's children, Felix and Emily, released a heartfelt statementto confirm their mother died following a fall on Sunday morning. They shared: "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."

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Before her death, Jilly had openly spoken about death, noting that she thought about it "quite a lot" and wondered if "I’ll just arrive in Heaven and my dogs will run across the sunlit lawn to welcome me, and family members will be there."

In accordance with Jilly's wishes, her funeral will be private. However, she previously gave an insight into what she'd like her funeral to include, from champagne and chocolates to the Royal Opera House orchestra and a 'big party'.

She previously revealed to the Daily Mail: "For my own funeral, I think I’d want to look quite tidy, wearing a bra and a trouser suit, because of my legs. And I’d like a photograph of Leo and the children in the coffin. And champagne, chocolates, and a copy of Pope John Paul II’s record. It is hysterical: pop music going in the background, and him saying, 'Be still my children, do not be frightened.'"

She candidly added: "It would be a terrific suck-up present to either God or the Devil when I got there."

When it comes to music on the day, Jilly knew exactly what she wanted, and it's nothing short of showstopping. From Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand, played by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, to the Royal Opera House orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, as she noted, they'd make a "terrific din in the churchyard at Bisley".

And that's not all. Jilly also expressed wishes for the tunes of Lacrimosa from Verdi’s Requiem, the Good Friday music from Wagner’s Parsifal, and the Brideshead Revisited music.

She even thought about specific readings, mentioning a poem, for her "drinking mates", called 'So We’ll Go No More a-Roving' and another by Christina Rossetti titled 'When I am dead, my dearest'. In addition, she spoke of another poem by W.E. Henley, called 'Margaritae Sorori', that made her cry.

Jilly noted a particular emotional verse, which read:

"So be my passing!
My task accomplish'd and the long day done,
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing,
Let me be gather'd to the quiet west,
The sundown splendid and serene,
Death."

Delving further into details, Jilly outlined that she'd like "two priests to conduct the service", one being a man from the village called Mr Farrow and a great friend called "Father Damian, of Prinknash Abbey". She also spoke about being "buried near her dogs’ graveyard" with a "slate headstone by Roger Venables", with the dates and an engraving of her "best dog, Barbara."

She sweetly noted that her son Felix, "said he wouldn’t want to share me with millions of people and would rather have a small gathering", but insisted that after the funeral, there would be a party in her Gloucestershire garden, "looking over the valley." Jilly said that the "big party" could "spread over the lawn" and all her friends would be there.

While the funeral will be private, a public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months at Southwark Cathedral to honour the author and her vibrant life, one that mirrored the colourful characters she created.