The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word PRINCIPALITY
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Wales" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case wales = principality.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 PRINCIPALITY mean?
PRINCIPALITY noun- A region or sovereign nation headed by a prince or princess.
- A spiritual being, specifically in Christian angelology, the fifth level of angels, ranked above powers and below dominions.
- The state of being a prince or ruler; sovereignty, absolute authority.
- The state of being principal; pre-eminence.