Former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, who announced that Queen Elizabeth had died on air, has been charged with making indecent images of children.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that Edwards had been arrested on Nov. 8, 2023 before being charged with three counts of the alleged offense on June 26 following authorization from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation,” a police spokesperson confirmed.
The offenses relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat, authorities said. They are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022,
Police added in their statement that Edwards “has been bailed” and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 31.
“Media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case,” police concluded, warning, “Nothing should be published, including on social media, which could prejudice future court proceedings.”
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Per the BBC, Edwards has been accused of having six category A images on a phone, as well as 12 category B photos and 19 category C pictures.
The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment on the image categories when contacted by PEOPLE, stating that “any details on alleged offending will be discussed in court.”
Edwards, who is the father of five children, was born in Bridgend, Wales, and spent almost all his professional life at the BBC. He was at the helm as the BBC announced the death of Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 8, 2022, would regularly host U.K. general election coverage and was also called upon to anchor the organization’s coverage of the late monarch’s funeral and King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.
He left the broadcaster in April on medical grounds.
“Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC,” the BBC said in a statement on April 22. “After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors. The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further.”
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In July 2023, Edwards was named as the man at the center of a sexting scandal after his wife, Vicky Flind, made a statement on behalf of their family.
Flind said at the time that Edwards had been “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was “receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future” after suffering “another serious episode” amid the scandal.
Allegations had previously been made in The Sun that a “well-known presenter” had paid around $45,000 to a young person for sexual pictures over several years. The story was based on an interview with the person’s mother and stepfather, who said the contact began when the young person was 17.
However, a lawyer for the young person told the BBC that “nothing inappropriate” had happened after The Sun’s report and allegations came out. The Metropolitan Police also ruled out taking any action against Edwards and said “there was no evidence that a criminal offense had been committed.”
