Crossword Genius

Royals use this material to trouble fool surrounded by silence (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sailcloth

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'royals use this material' is the definition.
'sailcloth' can be an answer for 'material' (sailcloth is a kind of material). I am not sure about the remainder of the definition.

'trouble fool surrounded by silence' is the wordplay.
'trouble' becomes 'ail' (synonyms).
'fool' becomes 'clot' (I've seen this in other clues).
'surrounded by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'silence' becomes 'sh' ('sh' is said to tell someone to be silent).
'ail'+'clot'='ailclot'
'ailclot' inserted into 'sh' is 'SAILCLOTH'.

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sailcloth that I've seen before include "fabric" , "I call host (anag) - canvas" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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