Crossword Genius

The royal state may include a joke (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

majesty

'the royal state' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'may include a joke' is the wordplay.
'include' is an insertion indicator.
'a joke' becomes 'jest' (synonyms).
'may' going around 'jest' is 'MAJESTY'.

(Other definitions for majesty that I've seen before include "Stateliness" , "Royal power" , "Grandeur" , "Air of royalty" , "Royal quality" .)

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