We have apologised to Jess de Wahls for the way we have treated her and do so again publicly now.
Freedom of expression can open up debate, create empathy or respect for difference, it can also at times cause hurt and outrage.
“I think it’s important for an institution like that to stay out of these things,” she said.
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, welcomed the apology.
“If an artist denied Jewish, black or gay people’s identity, most people would say that the Royal Academy would be right to remove their works from the gift shop.