Edwards, who’s the Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, was the final youngster to be introduced out alive from the wreckage of the college.
He informed BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that it was “absolutely wonderful” to receive the honour from the King, who he had hosted on his final go to to Aberfan when he was Prince of Wales.
“He said ‘nice to see you again Mr Edwards’, because I’ve met him several times before, and he enquired as to how the wives’ group were doing because he has got a favourite spot for them,” he stated.
Edwards stated he had additionally met the Queen on a number of events and “she always used to call me ‘the boy with the white hair'”.
“I said to the King, little did I know an eight-year-old buried in the disaster in Aberfan would be standing before the King and receiving this medal, it’s totally unreal really,” he stated.
Recalling what occurred on 21 October 1966, he stated: “I remember a thunder sound before the disaster happened and the teacher reassuring us that it was only thunder and the next thing waking up with a dead girl on my shoulder.”
He stated he may see mild coming in above him and he heard screams and shouts round him.
Edwards was dug out by fireman Roy Thomas, who he was reunited with a few years later when he was Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil, including that he was glad to have been in a position to personally thank him “for saving my life all those years ago”.
