Henry VIII with a Chair and Canopy of Estate on a dais covered with a Turkish carpet.

Description: A Cloth or Canopy of Estate indicates who is the most senior or important person in the room. They were used by kings, queens, popes and many other grand people. The Cloth of Estate was usually made from expensive textiles and might have a coat of arms painted or embroidered on it. Sometimes there was a overhead canopy and side panels that extended forward, a bit like a tall tent.

Mary Queen of Scots would have hung her Cloth of Estate behind her Chair of Estate. We know from historical records that Mary had several different Cloths of Estate, some more important than others. We even know what they were made of and what colour they were. The Chair of Estate always had three tasselled cushions, one for the back, one to sit on and one for the feet.

Mary's Chair of Estate is placed on a small raised platform, called a 'dais', which is covered with a Turkish carpet. The rules about who was allowed near the dais were very strict: '...no manner whatsoever degree he be of... no one must stand under the clothe of estate nor to stand upon his carpet'.

Even if the queen was not actually present the palace staff would treat the Chair and Cloth of Estate as if the queen were there.