The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word KINGSHIP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
K
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "position of authority" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case position of authority = kingship.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does KINGSHIP mean?
KINGSHIP noun- The dignity, rank or office of a king; the state of being a king.
- A monarchy.
- The territory or dominion of a king; a kingdom.