Crossword Genius

Queen's consort needing diplomacy from east to keep order (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tomcat

'queen's consort' is the definition.
(queen can mean a female cat)

'diplomacy from east to keep order' is the wordplay.
'diplomacy' becomes 'tact' (tact can mean diplomacy or sensitivity).
'from east' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'to keep' is an insertion indicator.
'order' becomes 'om' (Order of Merit).
'tact' reversed gives 'tcat'.
'tcat' going around 'om' is 'TOMCAT'.

'needing' is the link.

(Other definitions for tomcat that I've seen before include "Male moggie" , "Male animal: US Navy fighter plane" , "Male mog" , "Asparagus, perhaps" , "Male pet" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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