Christopher Audland was born 7 July 1926, son of Brigadier Edward Gordon Audland, CB, CBE, MC, and Violet Mary, daughter of Herbert Shepherd-Cross, MP. He was educated at Twyford School and Winchester College, and in 1955 married Maura Daphne Sullivan, having two sons and one daughter.

After serving as a Captain in the Royal Artillery, 1944-48, Audland entered the Diplomatic Service in 1948, and his career included: Berlin and Bonn [Germany] (British Negotiator, Allied/FRG Bonn Conventions, 1950-52); British Representation to Council of Europe, Strasbourg [France]; Washington [United States]; UK Delegation to negotiations for British Membership of European Communities, Brussels [Belgium], 1961-63; Co-ordinator and Editor-in-Chief, Foreign and Commonwealth Office report on negotiations for UK entry into EC, 1963; Buenos Aires [Argentina], 1963-67; Head of Science and Technology Department, FCO, 1968-70 (Head, UK Delegation to 1st UN Conference on Seabed and Ocean Floor, 1968); Counsellor (Head of Chancery), Bonn, 1970-73 (Deputy Head, UK Delegation to Four-Power Negotiations on Berlin, 1970-72); seconded to Commission of European Communities, 1973: Deputy Secretary-General, 1973-81; Director-General for Energy, 1981-86. Audland died on 29 December 2019.