Clue: Authorised captive queen to be dropped into English sea (9)
Answer: EMPOWERED
Explanation: Authorised captive queen to be dropped into English sea (9)
**POW** (prisoner of war, so "captive") +** ER** (Elizabeth Regina, so "queen") *to be dropped into* **E** (English) + **MED** ("sea"), so **E-M(POW-ER)ED