Crossword Genius

Non-professional Queen cover (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

layer

'cover' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'non-professional queen' is the wordplay.
'non-professional' becomes 'lay' (as in a layman).
'queen' becomes 'ER' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'lay'+'er'='LAYER'

(Other definitions for layer that I've seen before include "Stratum, tier" , "Hen, perhaps" , "Single thickness and hen" , "Film" , "One who does the setting" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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