Crossword Genius

Tradition supported by the Queen as patron (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

customer

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

'tradition supported by the queen' is the wordplay.
'tradition' becomes 'custom' ('custom' can be a synonym of 'tradition').
'supported by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (letters go below - in down clue).
'the queen' becomes 'er' (Elizabeth Regina).
'custom'+'er'='CUSTOMER'

'as' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for customer that I've seen before include "Shopper (or now rail passenger!)" , "Shop client" , "One who buys goods or services" , "Rail passenger, nowadays" , "Someone who pays for goods or services" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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