LONDON (AP) — Prince William has expressed his shock and sadness at the news of the death of his former nanny’s stepson in the New Year’s truck attack in New Orleans that claimed the lives of 14 people. London’s Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are providing support to the family of 31-year-old Edward Pettifer, assisting them in the process of repatriating his body to the U.K. Pettifer hailed from west London.
In a statement shared on social media, the Prince of Wales and his wife, Catherine, conveyed their profound sorrow over the tragic passing of Ed Pettifer. They expressed their solidarity with the Pettifer family and all the innocent individuals affected by this horrific attack. Edward Pettifer was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who served as the nanny for both Prince William and Prince Harry from 1993 to 1999, a period that included the aftermath of the untimely death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. Legge-Bourke, also known as Alexandra Pettifer, was frequently seen in the company of Diana.
British media have reported that King Charles III is deeply saddened by the news and has extended his condolences to the Pettifer family. The family of Pettifer released a statement expressing their devastation at the tragic loss of Ed, describing him as a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend to many. They emphasized their profound grief at his passing and offered thoughts for the other families affected by the senseless attack.
The U.K.’s Foreign Office has stated that they are providing assistance to the Pettifer family and maintaining communication with U.S. authorities. The devastating attack early Wednesday, carried out by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former Army soldier, resulted in the loss of 14 lives and left around 30 individuals injured. Jabbar had shared videos on Facebook prior to the attack, indicating his intentions and declaring his allegiance to the Islamic State militant group. The coroner’s office has attributed the cause of death for all 14 victims to “blunt force injuries.”
Jabbar, aged 42, was fatally shot during an exchange of fire with law enforcement at the scene of the tragic crash on Bourbon Street, a renowned location worldwide for its lively atmosphere in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter.
This story has been corrected to remove an inaccurate reference to Pettifer being the final victim to be identified.
