Sadiq Khan was forced to distance himself from a claim on his website that a picture of a young white family “does not represent real Londoners”.
The Labour London mayor was criticised over the message, which appeared as part of a guide to his and the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) brand.
The guide opened with the words: “A City For All Londoners”, and promised to appeal to all ages, genders, sexual orientations and family make-ups.
But a picture of a couple and their two children walking along the Thames, with parliament in the background, was highlighted as an example of pictures not to use. A label on the picture read: “Doesn’t represent real Londoners”.
Mr Khan said the caption was added by a staff member “in error”, and does not reflect his view or the view of the GLA.