London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Mar 05, 2026

Briton Killed in New Orleans Attack Identified as Stepson of Former Royal Nanny

Briton Killed in New Orleans Attack Identified as Stepson of Former Royal Nanny

Edward Pettifer, 31, was among 14 victims of a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, carried out by a U.S. Army veteran pledging allegiance to Islamic State.
British authorities have confirmed the identity of a British victim in the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans as 31-year-old Edward Pettifer from London.

Pettifer, whose stepmother was formerly a nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry, was among 14 people killed when a U.S. Army veteran rammed a truck into a crowd of revelers.

Family and Royal Tributes
In a statement issued by London’s Metropolitan Police, Pettifer’s family expressed their grief, calling his death 'devastating' and emphasizing the tragic loss felt by those close to him.

Prince William, speaking on behalf of himself and his wife Kate, expressed his condolences on social media: 'We are shocked and saddened by the tragic news of Ed's death in New Orleans.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.'

A royal source confirmed that King Charles was also deeply moved by the news and had reached out personally to the Pettifer family to extend his condolences.

Royal Connections
Edward Pettifer’s father, Charles Pettifer, a former British Army officer, married Tiggy Legge-Bourke in 1999.

Legge-Bourke served as nanny to William and Harry during their childhood, playing a significant role in their early lives.

The Pettifer family has maintained close ties with the British royal family.

Edward’s stepbrother, Tom Pettifer, served as a page at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011.

The Attack
The attack, which claimed the lives of 14 people and injured dozens more, was carried out by a U.S. Army veteran who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

The incident sent shockwaves through the international community, highlighting the continued threat of terrorism.

Authorities in New Orleans are conducting a full investigation into the attack.

Global Condemnation
The New Orleans attack has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders and communities worldwide.

It serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge posed by extremist ideologies.

As tributes pour in for Edward Pettifer and the other victims, his connection to the British royal family underscores the broad impact of such tragedies, transcending borders and uniting individuals in shared grief and resilience.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Iran Conflict Strains U.S.–U.K. Alliance as Trump and Starmer Clash Over Military Strategy
UK Interest Rates Could Rise Above Four Percent Again if Energy Shock Continues, Think Tank Warns
Starmer Defends Britain’s Iran Strategy as Badenoch Urges Stronger Military Support
Labour MP Says She Saw No Sign Husband Broke Law After Arrest in China Espionage Investigation
UK Jobless Rate Overtakes Italy’s for First Time in Years as Labour Market Weakens
United Kingdom Suspends Student Visas for Four Countries in Unprecedented Immigration Move
Campaigners Warn UK Student Visa Ban Could Push Migrants Toward Dangerous Channel Crossings
First U.K. Charter Flight for Stranded Nationals Set to Depart Oman Amid Middle East Crisis
France and United Kingdom Deploy Warships to Eastern Mediterranean as Middle East Conflict Escalates
U.K. Arrests Three Men Including Lawmaker’s Partner in Suspected China Espionage Investigation
Trump Says UK–US ‘Special Relationship’ Is Diminished Amid Middle East Dispute
UK Economic Forecasts Face Fresh Strain from Middle East Conflict and Rising Energy Costs
UK Reaffirms Close US Ties After Trump’s Public Criticism
Reeves Stresses Stability and Fiscal Discipline in UK Budget Update as Growth Outlook Shifts
UK Deploys Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus After Drone Strike on RAF Base
Green Party Surges Past Labour in New UK Poll as Traditional Party Support Crumbles
Majority of Britons Oppose U.S. Use of UK Military Bases in Iran Conflict
UK Intensifies Evacuation Efforts from Oman, Working with Airlines to Boost Flight Capacity
Trump Condemns UK and Spain in Unusually Sharp Rift Over Iran Military Action
Trump Repeats UK Claims That Diverge from Verified Facts Amid Diplomatic Strain
UK Arrests Prominent Figures Linked to Epstein Network as Questions Mount Over US Action
Trump Says UK ‘Took Far Too Long’ to Approve Use of Airbases for Iran Strikes
Scope of Britain’s Role in the Expanding Middle East Conflict Comes Under Scrutiny
Trump Says He Is ‘Very Disappointed’ in Starmer Over Iran Comments
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Struck by Drones Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Starmer Confronts Strategic Test After Drone Strike Near British Base in Cyprus
Rolls-Royce Chief Signals Openness to Germany Joining UK-Led Fighter Jet Programme
UK Stocks Slip as Escalating Iran Conflict Triggers Global Market Selloff
UK Overhauls Asylum System to Make Refugee Status Temporary
Starmer Warns of ‘Reckless’ Iranian Strikes Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
British Base in Cyprus Targeted as Drones Intercepted Amid Expanding Iran Conflict
Starmer Diverges from Trump on Iran Strategy, Rejects ‘Regime Change from the Skies’
U.S. and Israel Intensify Strikes on Iran as Conflict Expands to Lebanon and Gulf States
Violent Pro-Iranian Protesters Storm U.S. Consulate in Karachi
Missile Debris Sparks Fires at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Near Palm Jumeirah
Iran Strikes U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Amid Wider Gulf Retaliation
When the State Replaces the Parent: How Gender Policy Is Redefining Custody and Coercion
Bill Clinton Denies Knowing Woman in Hot Tub Photo During Closed-Door Epstein Deposition
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton Testifies on Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Before Congressional Oversight Committee
Dyson Reaches Settlement in Landmark UK Forced Labour Case
Barclays and Jefferies Shares Fall After UK Mortgage Lender Collapse Rekindles Credit Market Concerns
Play Exploring Donald Trump’s Rise to Power by ‘Lehman Trilogy’ Author to Premiere in the UK
Man Arrested After Churchill Statue Defaced in Central London
Keir Starmer Faces Political Setback as Labour Finishes Third in High-Profile By-Election
UK Assisted Dying Bill Set to Fall Short in Parliament as Regional Initiatives Gain Ground
UK Defence Ministry Clarifies Position After Reports of Imminent Helicopter Contract
Independent Left-Wing Plumber Secures Shock Victory as Greens Surge in UK By-Election
Reform UK Refers Alleged ‘Family Voting’ Incidents in By-Election to Police
United Kingdom Temporarily Withdraws Embassy Staff from Iran Amid Heightened Regional Tensions
UK Government Reaches Framework Agreement on Release of Mandelson Vetting Files
×