Shamed BBC news reader Huw Edwards is stripped of Welsh honour after admitting child pornography charges

Edwards, 62, has become the first person ever to be expelled from the group, made up of poets, writers, musicians, artists and other creatives, due to being dishonoured.

The board of trustees at Eisteddfod Court, which runs a yearly Welsh language arts festival, announced on Thursday it was expelling the veteran broadcaster.

Members of the Gorsedd are said to have made a distinguished contribution to the Welsh language and culture.

Edwards has also been removed from the Eisteddfod itself.

A statement released by National Eisteddfod said: “Following a unanimous vote at today’s Eisteddfod Court meeting, the board of trustees has decided to activate section four (a) (iv) of the constitution to terminate Huw Edwards’ membership of the Eisteddfod and, as a result, he will also be expelled from Gorsedd Cymru.”

Every year the festival sees thousands of visitors travel to different venues across Wales and is the largest event of its kind in the country.

The Gorsedd of the Bards take part in the ceremonies of some the festival’s events, which include brass band competitions, poetry contests and dancing displays.

It comes after Edwards, 62, admitted to having indecent images of children last week, with seven of the 41 images being of the most serious type.

BBC director general Tim Davie later defended his decision to employ Edwards until April, five months after he was told of Edwards’ arrest in November over the most serious category of indecent images of children.

Edwards resigned from the BBC in April “on the basis of medical advice from his doctors” after unrelated allegations that he paid a young person for sexually-explicit photos.

Police found no evidence of criminal behaviour in the matter.

Edwards will next appear in court on September 16.