Disgraced Huw Edwards could be stripped of a prestigious Welsh cultural honour after he pleaded guilty to having sexual images of children.
The Welshman is facing up to 10 years in jail after admitting to the sick stash of 41 child porn images – and may now lose membership to a major Welsh society.
In 2022, at Tregaron, Ceredigion, Edwards was inducted to the Gorsedd of the Bards, which accepts new members who have contributed to Welsh life.
Gorsedd members – known as druids – include poets, writers, musicians, and artists.
Even Elizabeth II was enrolled in 1946, before this was reversed under new rule changes because she couldn’t speak Welsh.
The Gorsedd is most prominent at the annual National Eisteddfod where it is responsible for the main ceremonies.
Founder Iolo Morgannwg devised the Gorsedd’s rituals based on the Druids, but with a strong Christian influence, to emphasise the fact that the culture and heritage of the Celts belongs to the Welsh.
In Gorsedd Cymru, a person may become a bard by passing an examination in the Welsh language and may only be nominated by existing ‘druids’.
White robes are worn by winners of the main Eisteddfod prizes, members who wear green specialise in the arts.
This can be through obtaining a degree or by passing a special Eisteddfod exam.
Blue robes are for those who have made a ‘distinct contribution’ to their community or the nation.
Honorary membership can also given to those who stand out in their fields of Law, Science, Sports, Journalism or the Media – like Edwards.
But Gorsedd Recorder Christine James told BBC Wales that the fallen star may have his membership revoked following his bombshell guilty plea today.
She told the BBC: ‘The Gorsedd does not have a process or a specific mechanism to expel members.’
However, she said it will be discussed at the board meeting at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Tuesday.
It comes as Edwards is facing up to 10 years in jail after he admitted to keeping seven category ‘A’ images of the very worst kind on his phone after being sent them on WhatsApp by another paedophile.
The 41 child porn images showed youngsters aged between seven and 14, a court heard, as the veteran news broadcaster pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, between December 2020 and August 2022.
Edwards’ former colleague Sir Craig Oliver said that while the renowned presenter could be ‘difficult’, everyone who knows him will be ‘shocked’ at the admission.
He added there were questions raised about whether the 62-year-old was ‘throwing his weight around’ while at the BBC.
Before pleading guilty to indecent images today, Edwards had faced an earlier scandal after being accused of paying a young person for sexually explicit images last year.
April 2023 – Police were contacted but ‘no criminality was identified’.
May 18, 2023 – A family member of the young person, who was 17 at the time, made an in-person complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter.
May 19. 2023 – A complainant contacted the BBC in a 29-minute call to the BBC’s audience services team, and the details were referred to the Corporate Investigations Team.
June 6, 2023 – After getting no reply to the email, the Corporate Investigations Team tries to call the complainant but the call does not connect.
July 5, 2023 – Edwards is last seen on air as he covered King Charles’ visit to Scotland.
July 6, 2023 – The Sun informs BBC Press Office about allegations against the star presenter.
July 7, 2023 – The Sun published its exclusive which alleged that a BBC star, unnamed at the time, paid £35,000 for sexual content to someone beginning when they were 17. But a lawyer acting on behalf of the young person told The Sun there was ‘no truth’ to the claims.
July 9, 2023 – The BBC confirms that a male presenter has been suspended from all duties.
July 11, 2023 – Director-general of the BBC Tim Davie defends the delay in speaking to the BBC presenter.
July 12, 2023 – Huw Edwards is revealed as the BBC presented by his wife Vicky Flind.
July 13, 2023 – The Met Police said detectives from its specialist crime command have ‘concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed
November 8 – Edwards is arrested on suspicion of making indecent images of children.
April 22, 2024 – Edwards resigns from the BBC having not appeared on air for months.
June 26, 2024 – Edwards is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
July 29, 2024 – Met Police first reveal the charges against Edwards in a press statement.
July 31, 2024 – Edwards appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleads guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, between December 2020 and August 2022.
September 16, 2024 – This is when Edwards will be sentenced
Another former friend of the star said: ‘It’s a mess – and tragic for all concerned’, adding that if the charges are true it is ‘also horrible and disgusting’.
The downfall of one of Britain’s most trusted voices who spent 40 years at the BBC has astounded those who know him and those who have watched him on TV alike.Edwards was arrested on November 8 last year and charged on June 26.
He resigned from his £475,000-a-year role at BBC three months ago having kept news of his arrest a ‘secret’ from pals, former colleagues said.
The father-of-five moved out of the family home in Dulwich after separating from his TV producer wife, Vicky Flind.
Edwards, of Wandsworth, southwest London, spoke to confirm his date of birth, address and admit the three charges.
The court heard that Edwards had been involved in online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, who sent him 377 sexual images, of which 44 were indecent images of children.
The bulk of these, 36, were sent during a two-month period.
Mr Hope told the court there was ‘no suggestion’ Edwards had ‘anything to with making the images or indeed doing anything beyond the opening of the images.’
He said the Welshman ‘engaged in an online chat’ with a ‘male’ who ‘initially contacted’ him via social media.
Speaking in Edwards’ defence, his barrister Philip Evans KC said: ‘There’s no suggestion in this case that Mr Edwards has… in the traditional sense of the word, created any image of any sort.
News of Edwards’ guilty plea was welcomed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today, who said it would ‘send a clear message’ that offenders would be brought to justice.
Claire Brinton of the CPS said: ‘Accessing indecent images of underage people perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children, which has deep, long-lasting trauma on these victims.
‘The CPS and the Metropolitan Police were able to prove that Edwards was receiving illegal material involving children via WhatsApp.
‘This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside with the police, will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.’
A spokesperson for child abuse charity the NSPCC added: ‘Online child sexual abuse offences can have a devastating impact on victims and we should be in no doubt about the seriousness of Edwards’ crimes.
‘It can be extremely traumatic for young people to know sexual images of themselves have been shared online.’