Who is Edward Pettifer and why King Charles, William and Kate reacted to his death?

Although 14 people were killed when a U.S. Army veteran rammed a truck into a crowd of revellers in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, one victim in particular is making headlines after the UK's royal family reacted to his death. 

Citing a royal source, Reuters reported that King Charles was deeply saddened to learn of Pettifer's death and had been in touch with his family to pass on personal condolences.

King's heir Prince William and daughter-in-law Kate Middleton also released a statement on Instagram, saying they shocked and saddened by Pettifer's death.

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 Prince William's wedding in 2011.

British police named one of the victims of the attack as Edward Pettifer, a 31-year-old from London. 

"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.