[1] Until the age of twenty, d'Ormesson spent the majority of his life travelling due to his father's diplomatic postings; during this time, he lived in Copenhagen, Athens and Brussels.

He studied economy at the École libre des sciences politiques in 1905, but did not graduate; during this time he had already developed an interest in literature, and published a book of verse while a student.

He wrote articles on foreign policy for La Revue hebdomadaire from 1922, which drew the attention of former President Raymond Poincaré.

[2] d'Ormesson's career as a diplomat began in May 1940, when he was named French ambassador to the Holy See by Prime Minister Paul Reynaud.

On returning to France he settled in Lyon in the free zone, where the editorial of Le Figaro was now based, and once again took up work for the newspaper.