His essay is about a monarch (5)

I believe the answer is:

terry

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'his' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'essay is about a monarch' is the wordplay.
'essay' becomes 'try' (synonyms).
'is about' is an insertion indicator.
'a monarch' becomes 'er' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina, British Queen).
'try' going around 'er' is 'TERRY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for terry that I've seen before include "Fabric with piles" , "(Rhyming) man's name" , "A man" , "Cloth to make towels" , "Towelling fabric" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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