Crossword Genius

Queen's partner on pliant central business associations (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

consortia

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'business associations' is the definition.
'consortia' can be an answer for 'associations' (consortium is a kind of association). I'm unsure of the 'business' bit.

'queen's partner on pliant central' is the wordplay.
'queen's partner' becomes 'consort' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'central' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle letters of 'pliant' are 'ia'.
'consort'+'ia'='CONSORTIA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for consortia that I've seen before include "Groups of bodies" , "syndicates" , "Associations of businesses" , "More than one commercial group" , "firms" .)

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