A man with connections to the British royal family was among the victims of a tragic attack in New Orleans on January 1.
Edward Pettifer, the 31-year-old stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, former nanny to Princes William and Harry, was killed in the horrifying incident when a truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street.
Lived in London
Reports confirm that Pettifer, who lived in Chelsea, London, died from blunt force injuries after Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, intentionally drove his truck into the revelers.
The attack on New Year’s Day has left the city in shock, with 15 lives lost and many others injured. Pettifer was in Louisiana visiting a friend when the tragedy struck.
Ms. Pettifer began working for King Charles in 1993, when he was still the Prince of Wales. She became a trusted companion to the young princes after Charles and Diana’s separation, offering them support during a difficult time.
Ms. Pettifer often traveled with the princes on vacations, and after Princess Diana’s death, she played a key role in helping them cope with the loss of their mother.
Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who cared for William and Harry from 1993 to 1999, has remained close to the princes throughout the years. Their bond is undeniable, with the brothers attending her wedding in 1999 and later inviting her to theirs.
Tiggy is also the godmother of Prince Archie, Harry and Meghan’s son.
Prince William expressed his sorrow over Pettifer’s death on social media:
“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.”
Prince Harry has been informed
Palace sources also revealed that King Charles was “devastated” by the tragic loss and personally reached out to Mr. Pettifer’s family to express his condolences.
According to the BBC, Prince Harry has been informed of the news but he hasn’t made any public comments.
The Pettifer family shared their own heartbreaking message:
“The entire family is devastated at the tragic news of Edward’s death in New Orleans. 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 loved ones in this terrible attack. We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you.”
The chaos began when Jabbar, who displayed an ISIS flag on his truck, bypassed a police blockade and drove at high speed through crowds, causing devastation.
The truck eventually collided with a crane, bringing the rampage to a halt. Jabbar exited the vehicle and began firing at police officers, who returned fire and fatally shot him. The FBI stated that the suspect is believed to have acted alone in what they describe as a ”premeditated and evil act.”
The Pettifer family, along with so many others affected, is in our thoughts as they try to process this unimaginable pain.
