Prince William, Kate Middleton 'shocked' by Edward Pettifer's death

Prince William and Kate Middleton on Saturday released a statement on the death of Edward Pettifer who died in New Year's Day attack in New Orleans in the US.

Using their Instagram account,  Prince William wrote, "Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer.

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

British police have named one of the victims of the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans as Edward Pettifer, a 31-year-old from London whose stepmother was a nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry.

He was among 14 people killed by a U.S. Army veteran who rammed a truck into a crowd of revellers.

"The entire family are devastated at the tragic news of Ed's death in New Orleans," Pettifer's family said in a statement issued by London's Metropolitan Police.

A royal source said King Charles was deeply saddened to learn of Pettifer's death and had been in touch with his family to pass on personal condolences.

Pettifer's father Charles, a former British army officer, married Tiggy Legge-Bourke in 1999 shortly after she had stepped down as nanny to William and Harry.

The family remained close to British royalty and Pettifer's stepbrother Tom was a page at William's wedding in 2011.