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Prince William & Kate ‘shocked and saddened’ after death of royal nanny’s stepson in New Orleans terror attack
Read on about the terror attack below
PRINCE William and the King were last night “shocked and saddened” after the stepson of former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke was killed in the New Orleans terror attack.
Edward Pettifer, 31, a friend of William and brother Harry, was out celebrating New Year when he was mown down by an IS-inspired extremist.
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King Charles was said to be “deeply saddened”, with the monarch sending a personal message of condolence to Edward’s relatives
Royal insiders said it was a terrible start to 2025 for the family following a traumatic 12 months.
Edward — known as Ed to family and friends — was on holiday with a pal when he became one of 14 victims of the terror attack.
Yesterday the Prince of Wales said he and wife Kate were praying for Edward’s family.
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In a heartfelt statement on X, he posted: “Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.”
He signed it off with a “W”, indicating he wrote it himself.
It is understood from sources that California-based Harry had been made aware of the “sad” news.
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Edward’s stepmum Tiggy, 59, has remained a close friend to many of the royals for 40 years, having helped look after William and Harry when they were young.
She was like a “second mum” to the brothers as they grew up and was there for them when their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, died in 1997.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said: “This is very sad news and can’t be an easy beginning to the new year for the Royal Family.
“They have known the Legge-Bourkes and subsequently the Pettifers for much of their lives.
“William and Harry, especially, have always been close to Tiggy and her family and they were friends with Ed. This will come as a tragic blow.”
Edward — who was said to be “smart and adventurous” with an entrepreneurial streak — spent Christmas in New York before travelling to New Orleans with a friend to see in the New Year, a source revealed.
He was celebrating on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day when he was hit by a pick-up truck driven into crowds by IS-inspired terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
Edward died from blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s preliminary report.
This is very sad news and can’t be an easy beginning to the new year for the Royal Family
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward
He was the only foreign national among the 14 victims. His pal is believed to have escaped injury.
Yesterday Edward’s family said they were “devastated”.
In a statement they said: “He was a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many.
"We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack.”
Edward was the eldest son of Charles Pettifer, 59, a former Coldstream Guards officer, and Camilla Wyatt, 58, the daughter of a racehorse breeder.
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He was a keen fisherman and skier and is said to have attended Stowe School, the prestigious boarding establishment in Bucks.
It is understood he lived in Chelsea, West London, with mum Camilla and younger brother Harry, 29.
Friends said he had spent time in Africa but returned to London with the intention to buy a property and settle down.
Edward’s dad Charles later became romantically involved with Tiggy, who he had known since they were teens. She was also godmother to Edward.
From 1993 to 1999, Tiggy was William and Harry’s nanny as well as personal assistant to their father Prince Charles.
This is very sad news. It was one big happy family with Tiggy and her royal boys in their formative years
Royal biographer Angela Levin
After she stepped down, she married Charles Pettifer, with Wills and Harry both attending the wedding.
Both princes are still close to Tiggy and are expected to send private messages of condolence.
They got to know Edward thanks to Tiggy keeping the young princes close even after she left as nanny.
Charles and Tiggy have two sons together — Tom, 22, who is William’s godson, and Fred, 23, who is Harry’s godson, which highlights the closeness of the families.
In 2019 Harry named Tiggy as godmother to his and Meghan’s first child, son Archie.
He had taken Meghan to meet Tiggy in the early days of their relationship, even before the future Duchess met his father and the rest of the Royal Family.
Tiggy attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 and took Edward’s half-brother Tom to the ceremony. Tom was also a pageboy at William and Kate’s 2011 nuptials.
Tiggy was also by Harry’s side at his Sandhurst Second Lieutenant commissioning ceremony in 2006. She now runs a farmhouse B&B near Crickhowell, South Wales, billed as “The Tiggy Experience”.
Ex-chopper pilot William regularly visited when stationed at RAF Valley on Anglesey in North Wales.
Royal biographer Angela Levin told how Tiggy called Wills and Harry “my babies” when they were young.
She said: “This is very sad news. It was one big happy family with Tiggy and her royal boys in their formative years.
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“She once referred to them as ‘my babies’. Harry has kept in touch with Tiggy and even took Meghan to see her at her guesthouse in Wales in the very early days of their relationship.
“She was the first person he wanted to show Meghan off to, even before she met his father — that’s how close they are.
“Tiggy was like a second mother to him and William growing up.
“She loved the boys enormously and always wanted to be with them. She is absolutely charming and nice and also knew how to have fun with the boys.”
The former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Dickie Arbiter, said the news will be “devastating” for the Royal Family.
He said: “Tiggy was very close to the family and played a key role after the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, in 1997.
“She had been around the Royal Family a long time, her mother Shân was a Lady-in-waiting to Princess Anne, so there’s always been a family connection.
“It’s devastating to Edward’s parents, it’s devastating to Tiggy, when you invest so much time in being there for somebody. Tiggy was always a part of Edward’s life.
Tiggy was very close to the family and played a key role after the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales
Dickie Arbiter
"The fact that the King has contacted them gives a good indication of the relationship. Charles did lean on Tiggy, very much so, in the early aftermath of Diana’s death.
“She was a terrific character and she was the right person to be there for the boys.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy added yesterday: “Extremely saddened to hear the tragic news that a British man was among those killed during the attack in New Orleans.
"We are supporting their family and are united with the US against terror threats.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Family Liaison Officers are providing specialist support and will guide the family through the repatriation and coronial processes, working with a range of international and Government partners.”
The FBI said the New Orleans attack was “premeditated” and an “evil” act of terrorism, adding that Jabbar was “100 per cent inspired by ISIS”, also known as Islamic State.
After mowing down 14 victims and injuring a further 35, military IT specialist Jabbar jumped out of his vehicle — which carried a home-made IS flag — and opened fire with an assault rifle, wounding two police officers. He was shot dead by cops at the scene.
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In disturbing videos posted shortly before his horrifying attack, the US Army veteran said he had joined IS “before this summer” and said he had planned to murder his family and friends.
FBI agent Christopher Raia said he decided against it over concerns the media wouldn’t focus on the “war between the believers and disbelievers”.
New Orleans New Year's victims list
THE New Orleans Parish Coroner's Office has identified all but one of 14 victims struck dead in the horror New Year's Day attack.
All victims died of blunt force injuries.
They are as follows:
- Andrew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, AL
- Kareem Badawi, 23, of Baton Rouge, LA
- Brandon Taylor, 43, of Harvey, LA
- Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, LA
- Matthew Tenedorio, 25 of Picayune, MS
- Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, of Gulfport, MS
- Nicole Perez, 27, of Metairie, LA
- Reggie Hunter, 37, of Prairieville, LA
- Martin Bech, 27, of New York, NY
- Terrence Kennedy, 63, of New Orleans, LA
- Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, LA
- William Dimaio, 25, of Holmdel, NJ
- Edward Pettifer, 31, of Chelsea, West London
- Unknown Black female
Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, also died after cops shot him to end the horror rampage.
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