A royal connection brings a deeply personal dimension to the tragic New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans.
According to the New York Post, Edward Pettifer, the 31-year-old stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry's former nanny Tiggy Pettifer, has been identified as one of the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack.
The Prince and Princess of Wales expressed their shock and grief through an official statement, highlighting their close connection to the Pettifer family. The victim was the eldest son of Charles Pettifer and Camilla Wyatt, who separated before Charles married Tiggy, the beloved royal nanny who cared for the princes from 1993 to 1999.
The tragic incident occurred when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rental pickup truck down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday. Edward Pettifer succumbed to blunt force injuries sustained during the attack. King Charles has personally reached out to the Pettifer family to express his condolences.
The Pettifer family released a heartfelt statement expressing their devastation at the loss of Edward. They described him as an exceptional family member whose presence will be deeply missed. The family has requested privacy during their period of mourning.
Prince William and Princess Catherine's statement, as shared by the future king, emphasized their emotional response to the tragedy:
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.
Tiggy Pettifer's connection to the royal family extends beyond her role as a nanny during the princes' formative years. She provided crucial emotional support to William and Harry following the death of their mother, Princess Diana. Her influence continues to this day, as she runs a bed and breakfast near Crickhowell in Wales.
The family's ties to the royals are further strengthened through Tiggy's two sons. Tom, age 22, is Prince William's godson and served as a page boy at William and Catherine's 2011 wedding. Fred, 23, holds the distinction of being Prince Harry's godson. In 2020, Tiggy's royal connections were reinforced when she was named godmother to Harry and Meghan Markle's son Archie.
Notably absent from the public response was Prince Harry, who sources indicated would not be commenting on Pettifer's passing. This detail adds another layer to the complex dynamics within the royal family and their extended circle.
The Pettifer family released another statement acknowledging the broader impact of the attack:
The entire family are devastated at the tragic news of Ed'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 family members due to this terrible attack. We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you.
The incident affected the British royal circle and the New Orleans community. The attack claimed 14 lives total, making it one of the most significant terrorist incidents in recent American history. The investigation into the attack continues as authorities work to understand the full scope of the tragedy.
Edward Pettifer, the 31-year-old stepson of former royal nanny Tiggy Pettifer, became one of 14 victims in the New Orleans terror attack on New Year's Day. The tragedy deeply affected the British royal family, particularly Prince William and Princess Catherine, who maintained close ties with the Pettifer family.
The incident occurred when a truck driven by Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowed through crowds on Bourbon Street, leaving multiple families, including the Pettifers, to grapple with devastating losses while bringing together communities on both sides of the Atlantic in shared grief.
