He grew up in Wraysbury, Berkshire, and attended Eton College from 1962 to 1967, having been elected a King's Scholar.

He attended King's College, Cambridge, from 1967 to 1970, and graduated with a degree in English Literature, Philosophy and History.

From 1977 to 1979, Mosley was based in Rome, teaching English as a second language and helping put into shape a data bank of statistics on European Community member countries.

Mosley also wrote many books, including a special jubilee volume on the English Monarchy entitled Blood Royal – From the time of Alexander the Great to Queen Elizabeth II, published in 2002.

On 1 November, his wife, the former publicist Lesley Lake,[6] who had been in poor health for some time, died of an infection.