Her Majesty The Queen has visited almost every country in the Commonwealth and has made many repeat visits. A third of all her travels abroad have been to Commonwealth countries, totalling more than 150 Commonwealth visits. For much of her first, and longest, Commonwealth Tour in 1953–4, the SS Gothic was used as the Royal Yacht. An estimated eight tons of baggage were embarked aboard the Gothic, and the official party accompanying The Queen was also accommodated on board. The group consisted of two ladies-in-waiting, three private secretaries, a press secretary, an acting Master of the Household, two equerries, 20 officials and staff, 72 naval staff, nine members of the press and a band of the Royal Marines.

SS Gothic was a Corinthic class passenger liner built by Swan Hunter at Wallsend and launched in 1947. This model is on a scale of 16 inches to 1 foot.