 The Cunard White Star Line 's RMS Queen Elizabeth was named after her . She launched the ship on 27 September 1938 in Clydebank , Scotland . Supposedly , the liner started to slide into the water before Elizabeth could officially launch her , and acting sharply , she managed to smash a bottle of Australian red over the liner 's bow just before it slid out of reach . In 1954 , Queen Elizabeth sailed to New York on her namesake . 
