Payment on the civil list? (7)

I believe the answer is:

royalty

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'payment' is the definition.
(I know that royalty is a type of payment)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for royalty that I've seen before include "Sovereignty" , "Sum paid for use of a patent" , "Top people; type of payment" , "Payment for the right to use someone else's property" , "percentage earned" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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