Lord Moore of Wolvercote, the Queen’s Private Secretary from 1977 to 1986, has died aged 88. He held the role at a time when the monarchy was reaping the benefits of public affection following the Silver Jubilee celebrations, and the wedding in 1981 of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer.

Lord Moore was brought to the palace as Assistant Private Secretary by Lord Cobbold, the Lord Chamberlain in 1966, on the understanding that he would succeed Sir Michael Adeane.

Lord Moore was well placed to deal with Downing Street, especially in the Callaghan years.

His long training at Whitehall meant that he was in tune with the Cabinet Secretary and the private secretaries to the Prime Minister.

Philip Brian Cecil Moore was born in India on April 6, 1921, the son of Cecil Moore, of the Indian Civil Service. He was sent to the Dragon School in North Oxford, and was a classical exhibitioner at Brasenose College where he won Blues for rugby and hockey, playing rugby for England in 1951.

Cricket was another passion, and he played for Oxfordshire in 1946. As a boy, he had seen Donald Bradman playing for Kent.

When Bradman was given out leg before wicket, Philip was among a swarm of youngsters who rushed on to the pitch in pursuit of an autograph but Bradman waved them away.

Years later, in 1986, while accompanying the Queen on a trip to Adelaide, Lord Moore reminded the cricketer of the incident, and he made amends by signing his menu.

In the Second World War, Lord Moore served as a Flight Lieutenant in RAF Bomber Command, but after being shot down spent the last three years as a prisoner of war. He then resumed his university life before joining the civil service.

In 1981, he was elected as a fellow of Brasenose College and was a director of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Company from 1986 to 1991.

On his retirement in 1986, he was created a life peer and in 1990 was appointed Permanent Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen.

Lord Moore, who died on April 7, the day after his 88th birthday, married Joanna Greenop in 1945, with whom he had two daughters.

In his later years, he lived in a grace and favour apartment at Hampton Court Palace.

His wife and his daughters, one of whom was married to musician Peter Gabriel, survive him.