Sir Christopher Meyer, the former British ambassador to the US, has died at the age of 78.
He served in the post for six years from 1997, and had previously been press secretary to the former prime minister John Major between 1994 and 1996.
His death was confirmed by Karen Pierce, the UK's current US Ambassador, who described him as a "great diplomat and a great character".
"All our thoughts are with Catherine and his family," she wrote on Twitter.
Sir Christopher reportedly suffered a stroke while on holiday with his wife in the French Alps, according to the Daily Mail.
In 2005, he released his memoirs, DC Confidential, recounting his time as ambassador. It included sharp criticism of the former prime minister Tony Blair for his handling of the period leading up to the Iraq War.
After retiring as ambassador to the US, he served as chairman of the UK's Press Complaints Commission between 2003 and 2009.
