A man closely linked to the British royal family was among the 15 victims of a tragic attack in New Orleans on January 1. Edward Pettifer, who was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the former nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry, died from serious injuries after Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, as confirmed by the Metropolitan Police.
The 31-year-old, who lived in Chelsea, West London, was visiting Louisiana with a friend during the holidays. Legge-Bourke, 59, married Edward’s father, Charles Pettifer, a retired Coldstream Guards officer, in 1999. She had worked as a nanny for William and Harry from 1993 until 1999, just after the split of King Charles and Princess Diana.
King Charles expressed his sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to Edward’s family. Legge-Bourke has maintained a close bond with William and Harry, having attended each other’s weddings and being a godmother to Harry’s son, Archie.
In a statement shared via Instagram, Prince William said he and Catherine were “shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer.” He extended thoughts and prayers to the Pettifer family and others affected by the attack.
The FBI confirmed the death toll from the attack, which occurred early on New Year’s Day, with 15 fatalities reported. Authorities have detailed that Jabbar, a Texan citizen, drove his truck into the crowd around 3:15 a.m. local time. The New Orleans Police Department reported that he was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police at the scene.
The Pettifer family released a statement expressing their deep sadness over Edward’s loss, saying he was a beloved son, brother, and friend. They requested privacy to grieve during this painful time while remembering others who also suffered from this tragedy.
