KING Charles is deeply saddened after a Brit close to the Royal Family was killed in the New Orleans terror attack, palace sources say.

Brit Edward Pettifer, 31, – who was the stepson of former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke – was tragically killed by a crazed gunman on New Year’s Day.

King Charles is said to be in touch with Pettifer’s family following his death earlier this week.

The King was often pictured alongside Tiggy throughout her years as a close aide to the Royals.

She worked as a nanny for Princes William and Harry between 1993 until 1999.

Tiggy was regarded as a pivotal figure in the brother’s lives following the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997.

The duo are said to still remain in contact with the mum-of-two to this day.

Pettifer was visiting Louisiana with a friend over New Year’s when he was killed in the heinous terror attack on Bourbon Street.

His cause of death was confirmed as “blunt force injuries” after a crazed gunman rammed revellers with a pick-up truck on January 1.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, is suspected to have been behind the wheel before he was gunned down following a firefight with cops.

The Brit’s heartbroken family left a touching tribute saying they are “devastated” by his death after it was confirmed by Met Police on Friday.

He was described as a “wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many”.

They added: “We will all miss him terribly.

“Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack.”

Pettifer is the eldest son of former security consultant Charles, 59, with his mum being Camilla Wyatt.

His parents separated in the mid 90s before Charles found love with the beloved nanny a few years later.

At this point Tiggy was already the godmother to Edward as she was childhood friends with Charles, according to reports.

Charles and Tiggy went on to have two sons of their own in Tom, 22, and Fred, 23.

Prince William is the godfather to Tom whereas Fred‘s is Harry’s godson.

BOURBON STREET MASSACRE

Thirteen other people were killed in the New Orleans tragedy after terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, is suspected to have carried out the horrific attack.

He rammed into revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve before gunning down others as a firefight with cops broke out.

All those killed died from “blunt force injuries” with Jabbar being shot dead by police who heroically stopped the rampage.

Ever since the heinous attack details have emerged around the killer’s motive.

Bombs were found inside the rented Ford F150 Lightning used to drive over partygoers with two more explosives found planted in the area.

Hours before the attack, the FBI said Jabbar posted five videos on social media where he proclaimed his support for ISIS.

He is said to have taken them as he travelled from Houston to New Orleans on the evening of December 31st.

In the first video, Jabbar explained how he initially planned to harm his friends and family but pivoted on the attack because he was concerned the news would not focus “on the believers and the disbelievers.”

The FBI is now confident there are no accomplices – and it’s believed Jabbar worked on his own.

It comes despite one of the videos allegedly claiming he had joined the terror group ISIS “before the summer.”

Agents raided the suspect‘s scruffy Texas trailer following the attack.

Cops found a Quran left open on a passage about “slaying” in the name of Allah.

A bomb-making workbench was also seen in a bedroom filled chemicals that can be used in explosives.

Other bomb-making paraphernalia seen in the Houston trailer include tools, an eye-protection visor and weighing scales.

There are now fears that other high profile public events like former president Jimmy Carter’s state funeral could be the “perfect target for terrorists”.

International security specialist Will Geddes told The Sun that American officials “cannot afford” to allow for another strike at the event, which will have the world’s attention.