By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-06 13:06:08 | Updated at 2026-10-06 21:29:11
8 hours ago
Queen Camilla has paid tribute to Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling author and former MP who died at the age of 86 on Monday.
Mr Archer, a Conservative MP and later the party’s deputy chair, died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home “between writing sessions”, his publisher HarperCollins confirmed.
Her Majesty has subsequently issued the following statement: "Seldom does an author get to live a life as rich, varied and colourful as any of the characters in their books, or with as many surprising plot twists.
"Jeffrey Archer was an exception to the end. It was therefore with sadness that I learned of his death yesterday, on the eve of publication of his final work and so soon after appearing at my Queen’s Reading Room Festival.
"My sympathies go to Mary and the family at this time of sorrow. I hope it may be some consolation for them to know what pleasure Jeffrey brought to me and to so many millions of readers through the pages of his works.
"While he was not without flaw, his friends will recall him as an irrepressible life force through all the many differing chapters of his life.
"Wherever the next page turns to, I trust there will be champagne and Shepherd’s Pie in abundance. Camilla R."
Mr Archer had a successful career as an author and was made a life peer in 1992.
Queen Camilla has paid tribute to Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling author and former MP who died at the age of 86 on Monday
GETTY
His time in politics was interrupted in 2001 when he was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice.
The case centred on a libel action Mr Archer had brought against The Star newspaper 13 years earlier, which resulted in him being awarded £500,000 in damages. An Old Bailey jury later found that he had lied during the case.
He was released early in 2003 and subsequently returned to the Lords, where he remained until retiring from Parliament in 2024.
Kate Elton, HarperCollins UK's chief executive and Mr Archer's editor, paid tribute to the author, describing working with him as "one of the great privileges" of her publishing career.
Jeffrey Archer pictured leaving the BBC studios the day before his death
PA
She said Mr Archer was a "master storyteller" and an "editor's dream", praising his extraordinary work ethic and determination to repeatedly revise his manuscripts until he was satisfied with every word.
Ms Elton also described him as a "true champion" of the collaborative nature of publishing.
Among those paying tribute was Nadhim Zahawi, former Tory Chancellor, who posted to X: “Jeffrey Archer was a dear friend and an extraordinary human being. His gift for storytelling was matched by his wit, warmth and boundless energy. Life was never dull in Jeffrey’s company.
"As a charity auctioneer, he was a force of nature: commanding a room, making people laugh and persuading them to dig deeper. He used that remarkable talent to raise millions for charitable causes, leaving a legacy of generosity that reaches far beyond his books.
Jeffrey Archer pictured with his wife, Mary, after his release from prison in 2003
PA
"Behind the celebrated author was a man with an enormous heart, fiercely loyal to his friends and generous with his time. My love and deepest condolences go to Mary and the whole family.
"Jeffrey, it was a privilege to call you my friend. You were one of a kind. May you rest in eternal peace.”
Also paying an emotional tribute was fellow writer Gyles Brandreth, who posted on social media: “I can’t believe that Jeffrey Archer - who was always so alive - is suddenly dead.
“We had a wonderful day together yesterday - as anyone who was there will tell you, he was in brilliant form on stage yesterday celebrating the publication of his 50th and final best-selling novel.”
