Who is Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the vindicated ex-royal nanny? William and Harry’s former childminder won her lawsuit against the BBC, who lied to Princess Diana about an affair with Prince Charles

Jul 25 , 2022

Tiggy Legge-Bourke was infamously accused of having an affair with Prince Charles by BBC interviewer Martin Bashir. Photo: Getty Images

BBC’s Martin Bashir forged abortion papers regarding Prince Charles and Legge-Bourke, to show Princess Diana in a 1995 interview – the network has finally apologised

She retired in 1999 when she married Charles Pettifer, but is still close with the young princes, attending their weddings to Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, and being named Archie’s godmother

In the history of royal nannies, Tiggy Legge-Bourke – whose married name is Alexandra Pettifer – is probably the most well-known and arguably the most controversial one. But she recently cleared her name of the “totally unfounded allegations” about her supposed relationship with Prince Charles, per People. Legge-Bourke looked after Prince William and Prince Harry from 1993 to 1999.

Prince Harry talks to his former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke in 2006, in Sandhurst, England. Photo: Getty Images

In 2022, Legge-Bourke made global headlines after winning her defamation case against the BBC and receiving a substantial payout.

So, who exactly is Tiggy Legge-Bourke and where is she now?

She comes from a family with close ties to the royals

Tiggy Legge-Bourke comes from a noble background. Photo: @conservadora191/Instagram

Tiggy Legge-Bourke was born in 1965 in Wales to a father who once served in the Royal Horse Guards and a mother who became a lady-in-waiting to Princess Anne. According to British media, her sister Zara asked Princess Anne’s daughter Zara to be a bridesmaid at her wedding, while her brother Harry was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth.

Royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke attends the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones at St. George’s Chapel in 1999, in Windsor, England. Photo: Getty Images

She completed her education at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, where Princess Diana also attended. Legge-Bourke then set up her own nursery school in London called Mrs Tiggywinkle’s.

She was Prince William and Prince Harry’s nanny

Tiggy Legge-Bourke and son Tom Pettifer attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2018, in Windsor, England. Photo: Getty Images