Members of the Royal Family are often among the first to extend condolences to families of those who have been impacted by incidents of serious crime.
But this one impacts them in a devastatingly personal way.
King Charles and Prince William were both informed through official channels that Edward Pettifer, 31, had been killed in the New Orleans terror attack on New Year’s Day.
Mr Pettifer, from Chelsea, was the stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry’s former nanny, Alexandra Pettifer, more widely known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
From skiing holidays to school visits, Ms Legge-Bourke was known to be the brothers’ “favourite nanny” having looked after them between 1993 and 1999.
She was regarded as a reassuring presence through poignant and tumultuous moments, including their parents’ divorce and following the death of their mother, Princess Diana.
She was an older sister figure to the princess, a bond so deep the families remain in each other’s lives.
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Ms Legge-Bourke attended both of their weddings with her son, Tom, Mr Pettifer’s half-brother, who was a page boy at Prince William and Princess Kate’s wedding in 2011.
Prince Harry is the godfather to her other son, while she is the godmother to his son, Prince Archie.
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It’s understood the King is deeply saddened by Mr Pettifer’s passing and has been in touch with the family personally to share condolences.
Kensington Palace has also reached out to the Pettifer family in the wake of their eldest son’s tragic death.
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Prince William says he and the Princess of Wales are deeply “shocked and saddened” at the news.
They, like Mr Pettifer’s family – and the families of the 13 other victims of this heinous attack – are devastated.
