US elder statesman paying respects to The Queen (9)

I believe the answer is:

kissinger

'us elder statesman' is the definition.
(Henry Kissinger)

'paying respects to the queen' is the wordplay.
'paying respects to' becomes 'kissing'.
'the queen' becomes 'er' (Elizabeth Regina).
'kissing'+'er'='KISSINGER'

(Other definitions for kissinger that I've seen before include "Henry --, US diplomat" , "Old statesman" , "Henry __, US Secretary of State under Presidents Nixon and Ford" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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