Strange guy seen collecting royal from island (8)
I believe the answer is:
guernsey
'island' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'strange guy seen collecting royal' is the wordplay.
'strange' is an anagram indicator.
'collecting' indicates putting letters inside.
'royal' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'guy'+'seen'='guyseen'
'guyseen' with letters rearranged gives 'guensey'.
'guensey' placed around 'r' is 'GUERNSEY'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for guernsey that I've seen before include "Neighbour of Jersey" , "off the Needles?" , "Source of milk" , "Cow - sweater" , "Second largest of Channel Islands" .)