The first female principal of St Andrews University publicly denounced one of the university’s most venerable societies on the grounds that its ban on women members is sexist.

The Kate Kennedy club, which consists of sixty strictly male members, was created in 1926. The members raise money for charity by dressing up as famous historical characters and taking part in a procession through the streets of St Andrews.

This year's parade took place on Saturday 18 March.

While commending the club for its charity work, Dr Louise Richardson announced that the university would not participate in last week's pageant and will no longer officially recognise the society.

In an email to St Andrews students, Dr Richardson wrote: "The official endorsement of any club or society which excludes people because of their gender or race would be completely at odds with the values of this university."

Dr Richardson’s appointment has itself led to some of the university’s traditions being discarded. Aside from being the university’s first female principal, she is also the first Roman Catholic to fill the position. She is also the only principal so far who is not British by birth.

Dr Richardson is no stranger to controversy; she sparked outrage in 2006 with the introduction to her book, What Terrorists Want, in which she claimed that she would have "joined the IRA in a heartbeat" following the aftermath of Bloody Sunday.