| UNICODE | In computing, an international standard set of characters and symbols (7) |
| METTLES | Qualities of character, and a homonym for a theme of this puzzle |
| ORCHESTRA | The Chamber Anglia was founded in 2001 by the UEA for professional musicians of an international standard (9) |
| WORLDCLASS | Hint about leading lady's form, it's an international standard (5-5) |
| CANON | Standard set of texts; cleric (5) |
| ALPHABET | Standard set of letters (8) |
| REELECTS | Reflects third change of character and returns to office (2-6) |
| MAHJONG | Meaning "sparrows", a game played with a set of tiles bearing Chinese characters and also symbols of bamboo, dots, dragons, flowers, seasons and winds (3-4) |
| JANUARY | With a "wolf" full moon and symbols including garnet, carnation and snowdrop, month named after a god of doorways whose two faces look to the past and the future (7) |
| ALGEBRA | Letters and symbols replace numbers in which branch of mathematics? (7) |
| DISDAIN | International standard wrongly said to be held in contempt |
| SEMITIC | Group of languages using signs and symbols (except O) (7) |
| REGALIA | The emblems and symbols of royalty (7) |
| BANNERS | Standards set by including Queen in wedding announcement (7) |
| FICTION | Book written about imaginary characters and events (7) |
| ABANDON | First two characters and first officer beginning to negotiate with carelessness (7) |
| UNICORN | Legendary horned animal and symbol of Scotland (7) |
| WALLACE | Aardman's clay animation characters, ... & Grommit (7) |
| REDSTAR | Colour and symbol associated with communism, coincidentally found on the logos of brands including San Pellegrino and Heineken (3,4) |
| REDFLAG | Song and symbol of socialism (3,4) |
