The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word RANEE
R
A
N
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E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Royal female" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case royal female = ranee.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 RANEE mean?
RANEE noun- The wife of a rajah.
- A Hindu princess or female ruler in India.