After Sir Christopher Meyer passed away from a massive stroke yesterday at the age of 78, tributes to the former US ambassador have been led by Boris Johnson and Penny Mourdant.
When tragedy struck, the ‘colourful’ and ‘dedicated’ career diplomat was watching a movie with his wife Baroness Catherine Meyer, 69, at their second home in the French Alpine village of Megeve.
After hearing him drop his iPad, his wife of 25 years realised he had become ill and alerted authorities.
Sir Christopher was declared dead at the scene, which came as a “huge shock” to the family, after paramedics raced to the house and fought for about 50 minutes to save his life.
The outgoing prime minister, Mr. Johnson, tweeted today that he was “saddened” to learn of his passing and added that he “devoted his life to international diplomacy.”
“My prayers are with his wife Catherine and his family,” you may say.
Some of the most influential politicians in Britain have agreed with him.
Penny Mourdant, who made it to the final three of the Tory leadership race, described Sir Christopher as a ‘great public servant and friend.’
She added: ‘I admired his passion for his nation, his kindness and humour. Thoughts with his family and everybody who loved him.’
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said he was ‘very upset’ by the news.
He added: ‘He was a powerful diplomat, who reinforced the UK/US special relationship, and a man of tremendous intellect, wit and wisdom. My thoughts are with Catherine and his loved ones.’
Just hours before he passed away, Sir Christopher was sharing his views on the Tory leadership race as he tweeted under the moniker ‘SirSocks’.
He continued to follow current events and had 32,600 followers.
In 1997, he wed Baroness Meyer, a former executive at a charity and businesswoman.
Greg Hands, a Conservative lawmaker for Chelsea and Fulham, expressed his “sincere regret” at learning of Sir Christopher’s passing.
Always great company and a creative thinker, he continued, “Thoughts with his equally brilliant widow Catherine at this time.”
Christine Hamilton also paid her respects by using social media.
Deeply shocked to read yesterday’s sudden death of “Sir Socks,” she wrote.
What a brilliantly colourful personality, a great diplomat, and a dear friend—such a sad loss.
Sir Christopher was close to his wife’s two children from her previous marriage and had two sons from his first marriage.
Her search for her sons, who had been taken as children by their German father after their divorce, led her to the couple.
Currently, Baroness Meyer is receiving help from her family in France. In France, where he will be laid to rest, there will be a funeral for Sir Christopher.
He had a lengthy career in diplomacy, which culminated in 1997 when he was appointed ambassador to the US, a position he held for six years. Prior to that, he held posts as ambassador to Germany, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the European Union.
Between 1993 and 1996, he served as the foreign secretary Lord Howe’s press secretary, the prime minister John Major’s press secretary, and the speechwriter for three different foreign secretaries: James Callaghan, Anthony Crosland, and David Owen.
From 2003 to 2009, Sir Christopher presided over the Press Complaints Commission.
He liked wearing red socks, and Labour’s former deputy prime minister John Prescott once referred to him as a “red-socked fop” because of his memoir DC Confidential, which provided details about the events leading up to the Iraq War.
Sir Christopher stated that he had been “determined to lead a monastic life, committed to work” until he met Baroness Meyer” in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2019.
He was assaulted in London’s Victoria tube station in 2018. Later, he expressed his relief that his adolescent attacker did not go to prison.