A 19-year-old law student from Denbighshire has been named winner of the prestigious Crown competition at Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026.
ELIN UNDEG WILLIAMS, from Betws Gwerful Goch, was announced as the winner during the festival’s Main Ceremony on Friday (May 29), securing one of the highest honours in Welsh youth literature.
Elin, a former pupil of Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch and Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, impressed judges with her prose submission on the theme Lloches (Shelter), earning her the coveted Crown. The competition required entrants to submit a piece, or collection of prose pieces, of more than 2,500 words.
Her victory marks a remarkable achievement, as she becomes the first competitor since Llŷr Titus to have won both the Urdd Drama Medal and the Crown. Elin won the Drama Medal at last year’s Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr, Parc Margam a’r Fro. Titus, who won the Crown in 2011 and the Medal in 2012, was one of this year’s judges alongside Sonia Edwards.
Fourteen entries were submitted for the competition. Lowri Bebb of Caernarfon was awarded second place, while Ffion Eleri Thomas from Bangor finished third.
Praising the winning work, the judges said: “What we have here are the reflections of a village hall, a hall that sees the events of the community around it and what goes on inside it. This is a clever example of ‘walls talking’. There is satire, criticism, affection, genuine scrutiny and a vivid, original portrayal of a rural community.”
Now in her first year studying Law and Professional Welsh at Aberystwyth University, Elin is an active member of Clwb Ffermwyr Ifanc Uwchaled and Aelwyd Pantycelyn. Speaking after her win, she thanked her former teachers for their support, paying particular tribute to Dr Eurig Salisbury of Aberystwyth University’s Welsh Department, as well as her family.
The Crown was designed by jeweller Myfanwy Jones, originally from Llanfairpwll, and was sponsored by Eiddo Cyf. Crafted from brass and featuring opal and jade stones, the design draws inspiration from the colours and natural beauty of Anglesey’s beaches.
Explaining the inspiration behind her design, Myfanwy said she had asked followers on Instagram what they most associated with Ynys Môn. Beaches emerged as the overwhelming response, leading her to explore the island’s coastline and Celtic symbolism in the creation of her first-ever Eisteddfod Crown.
The ceremony was sponsored by the James Pantyfedwen Foundation.
Elin’s success also continues a notable trend, with women now having won all three of the Eisteddfod’s main literary prizes for the past three years.
The top three competitors in this year’s major literary competitions will be invited to attend a course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, Literature Wales, in memory of the late Olwen Dafydd. The opportunity is funded through the Olwen Griffith Trust.
Elin’s winning work was published immediately following the ceremony by Cyhoeddiadau’r Stamp. Copies of the three winning literary works are available from the Urdd shop, Awen Menai stalls at the festival, and bookshops across Wales.
