Dread king's beheadings and poetry recitals (8)

I believe the answer is:

readings

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'recitals' is the definition.
('reading' can be a synonym of 'recital')

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for readings that I've seen before include "measurements" , "Texts" , "Formal recitals or figures from a meter" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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