Queen surrounded by knaves and jokers (5)
I believe the answer is:
cards
'jokers' is the definition.
(jokers are playing cards)
'queen surrounded by knaves' is the wordplay.
'queen' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for regina, e.g. in ER ).
'surrounded by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'knaves' becomes 'cads' (I've seen this in another clue).
'r' inserted inside 'cads' is 'CARDS'.
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for cards that I've seen before include "Odd people" , "Get one's -----: it's a P45 nowadays!" , "Small pieces of stiff paper" , "Eg, jack and ace" , "greetings" .)