Edward Pettifer, who is the stepson of the former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke was confirmed to be one of the victims of the terror attack in New Orleans which took place on New Year’s Day, with King Charles and Prince William both publicly mourning his loss.
The 31-year-old was stepson to Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the former royal nanny who took care of William and Harry, becoming an integral part of their lives especially after Princess Diana’s passing.
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The incident in New Orleans
The vehicle attack in New Orleans happened on New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, with the perpetrator driving a pick-up truck into a crowd of party-goers, killing 14 people, including Edward Pettifer, and injuring dozens of others.
The King is staying in touch
Following the killing of Edward Pettifer, the former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke’s eldest stepson, it is understood that the King is staying in touch with the Pettifer family.
Legge-Bourke was a nanny for Prince William and Prince Harry between 1993 and 1999.
The Princes have maintained a relationship with her
The two royal brothers have maintained a close relationship with Legge-Bourke, having been looked after by her for seven years.
She was also an important part of the valuable support system the two needed following the death of their mother, Princess Diana.
Legge-Bourke often also went on holiday with them
The former nanny is seen in photographs with the King and the princes when they were boys, including those from holidays the Royal Family had gone on.
In her last year as a nanny for the two she married security consultant Charles Pettifer whose eldest son was Edward Pettifer.
Edward Pettifer lived with his mother and brother
According to the Telegraph, 31-year-old Pettifer was the eldest son to the 59-year-old former Coldstream Guards officer Charles Pettifer and Camilla Wyatt who was the daughter of a racehorse breeder.
Pettifer lived in Chelsea, London, with his mother and brother, with his grandmother also living nearby.
The King and Princes are hurt by the loss
According to the BBC, palace sources say the King is “deeply saddened” by the death of Edward Pettifer and is staying in touch with his family.
While Prince Harry has chosen not to publicly state his mourning, Prince William said he and his wife Kate Middleton are “shocked and saddened” by Pettifer’s death.
The Prince offered his condolences
In a statement shared by the BBC, the Prince of Wales, Prince William offered his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.”
Pettifer’s family spoke in a statement
In a statement shared by Edward Pettifer’s family, they shared that they were “devastated at the tragic news of Ed’s death in New Orleans.”
They also shared that the loss of their son is terribly felt among members of the family and that they would like the space to mourn in private.
The Pettifer family asked for privacy
“We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack,” the family said.
They also added, “We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you.”
The Foreign Secretary also gave a statement
“We are supporting their family and are united with the US against terror threats,” a statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
He stated that he was “extremely saddened to hear the tragic news that a British man was among those killed during the attack in New Orleans.”
