Sandi Tosvig fired from hosting Save the Children in 1994 'because organisers didn't want Princess Anne to meet a lesbian'

Comedian hazarded a guess that the Princess had met one before

(Getty)

Sandi Toksvig said she was fired from hosting Save the Children in 1994 because the charity did not want Princess Anne to meet a lesbian.

The Danish-British writer, presenter and comedian joked on BBC Radio 4’s show The News Quiz this was a false hope on the part of the organisers.

“Now, I’m going to guess,” she said, “having been involved in the equine world, that she probably met one [a lesbian] before.”

Toskvig, 56, who had worked as an ambassador for Save the Children for 20 years, said organisers of the 75th anniversary celebrations rang her shortly after she came out and it was revealed she had three children with then partner Peta Stewart.

“They phoned me up and they fired me – because they didn’t want Princess Anne to meet a lesbian.”

She added: “They told me not to tell anybody, they told me to keep it a secret.

“I don’t know what [they thought I was going to do!] Save the Children, apart from the gay ones!” She joked.

The decision was taken by the charity’s 17 fund-raising trustees, who feared that Toskvig’s appearance “might distract from the events of the day.”

Lesbian rights supporters Lesbian Avengers protested the event and Save the Children later admitted their decision had been wrong and apologised.