Crossword Genius

Black Prince in the end pretty heartless (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ebony

'black prince' is the definition.
'ebony' can be an answer for 'black' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not sure about the 'prince' bit.

'the end pretty heartless' is the wordplay.
'the end' becomes 'e' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'pretty' becomes 'bonny' (I've seen this in another clue).
'heartless' suggests removing the centre.
'bonny' with its centre removed is 'bony'.
'e'+'bony'='EBONY'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for ebony that I've seen before include "Black hardwood" , "Hard wood used for black piano keys and in cabinetwork" , "Very dark black" , "Hard dark-coloured wood" , "Hard block tropical wood" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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