Crossword Genius

Attention surrounding girl married to country's ultimate diplomat (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emissary

'diplomat' is the definition.
(both can mean a representative of a nation)

'attention surrounding girl married to country's ultimate' is the wordplay.
'attention' becomes 'ear' (having someone's ear is having their attention).
'surrounding' is an insertion indicator.
'girl' becomes 'miss' (synonyms).
'married to' says to put letters next to each other.
'ultimate' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'country' is 'y'.
'ear' going around 'miss' is 'emissar'.
'emissar'+'y'='EMISSARY'

(Other definitions for emissary that I've seen before include "Spy" , "Someone sent on a mission" , "Person sent on a diplomatic mission" , "Government agent" , "Legate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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