Crossword Genius

Clandestine group surrounding English king (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

secret

'clandestine' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'group surrounding english king' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'set' (both can mean a collection).
'surrounding' is an insertion indicator.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'king' becomes 'CR' (short for Carolus Rex, King Charles in Latin).
'e'+'cr'='ecr'
'set' going around 'ecr' is 'SECRET'.

(Other definitions for secret that I've seen before include "hushed prayer" , "Not to be disclosed" , "Kept hidden from others" , "Confidence" , "Cloak-and-dagger" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.