Crossword Genius

Queen playing Free Bird in six counties? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nefertiti

'queen' is the definition.
(I know this)

'playing free bird in six counties?' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates an anagram.
'bird' becomes 'tit' (tit is a kind of bird).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'six counties?' becomes 'NI' (the six counties of Northern Ireland).
'free' anagrammed gives 'efer'.
'efer'+'tit'='efertit'
'efertit' going within 'ni' is 'NEFERTITI'.

(Other definitions for nefertiti that I've seen before include "Beautiful queen who ruled Egypt with the Pharaoh" , "Queen on the Nile" , "Egyptian queen, the wife of Akhenaton" , "African Queen" , "old queen" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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