King leads tributes as Sir Tom Stoppard, Oscar-winning playwright known for Shakespeare in Love, dies aged 88

Paying tribute to the beloved playwright, the King and Queen described him as “a dear friend who wore his genius lightly”.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Charles said: “My wife and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our greatest writers, Sir Tom Stoppard.

“A dear friend who wore his genius lightly, he could, and did, turn his pen to any subject, challenging, moving and inspiring his audiences, borne from his own personal history.

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“We send our most heartfelt sympathy to his beloved family. Let us all take comfort in his immortal line: ‘Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else’.”

Sir Tom, known for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia and the film Shakespeare In Love, died “peacefully” at his home in Dorset “surrounded by his family”, United Agents said in a statement.

A statement from United Agents said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved client and friend, Tom Stoppard, has died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family.

"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language.

"It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him."

Sir Tom, 88, captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades with his unparalleled ability to seamlessly blend intellect, emotion and humour in his writing.

Although primarily entertaining, Sir Tom's work explored philosophical and political themes, challenging societal norms to remind audiences of the power of thought.

'Dazzling wit'

In a tribute, Sir Mick Jagger said: "Tom was a giant of the English theatre, both highly intellectual and very funny in all his plays and scripts.

"He had a dazzling wit and loved classical and popular music alike which often featured in his huge body of work.

"He was amusing and quietly sardonic. A friend and companion and I will always miss him."

Award-winning plays such as Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, The Real Thing and Travesties highlighted the enduring impact of art tackling complex ideas, sharp dialogue and unrivalled wit.

He also wrote prolifically for TV, radio, and film, including adapting Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina for the 2012 film starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law, and TV series Parade's End with Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall - adapted from novels by Ford Madox Ford.

In 2020, Sir Tom released his semi-autobiographical new work titled Leopoldstadt - set in the Jewish quarter of early 20th century Vienna - which later won him an Olivier award for best new play and also scooped four Tony awards.

He was also honoured by PEN America, the literary and human rights organisation, receiving the Mike Nichols Writing for Performance Award for the West End play which featured his son Ed Stoppard.

Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia, he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain where he learned a new language and his remarkable career took off.

He became a journalist in Bristol in 1954 before becoming a theatre critic and writing plays for radio and TV, including The Stand-Ins, later revised as The Real Inspector Hound, and Albert's Bridge first broadcast by BBC Radio.

He first made his name with hit play Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. It premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1966, before it was produced for the National Theatre and on Broadway, winning four Tony awards in 1968 including best play.

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, inspired by Sir Tom' friendship with Viktor Fainberg who had been imprisoned in Czechoslovakia by the Soviets, was first performed in 1977, before the playwright began advocating on behalf of dissidents.

Meanwhile his trilogy of plays set in 19th century Russia, The Coast Of Utopia was first staged at the National Theatre in 2002.

His most recent plays include Heroes, Rock 'n' Roll and The Hard Problem.

During the course of his career, he received countless accolades and honours, including being knighted by the late Queen for his services to literature in 1997.

He followed in the footsteps of laureates Harold Pinter, Hilary Mantel and Seamus Heaney winning the David Cohen Prize For Literature in 2017.