The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers (formerly CVF) are a two-ship class of aircraft carrier being developed for the Royal Navy. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to enter service in 2014, HMS Prince of Wales in 2016. The vessels will displace about 75,000 tonnes (full load).

The need to replace the ageing Invincible class aircraft carriers was confirmed by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. From six contractors, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) selected Thales and BAE Systems in late 1999 to compete for the final contract. In September 2002 the MoD announced that the Royal Navy and RAF will operate the STOVL F-35B Lightning II variant and further that the carriers would take the form of large, conventional carriers, which will initially be adapted for STOVL operations. On January 30 2003 the MoD announced that the Thales design had won the competition but that BAE Systems would operate as prime contractor. The two companies are now part of a "carrier alliance" with the MoD and other companies.

The contract for the vessels was announced on 25 July 2007 by the Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne, ending several years of delay over cost issues and British naval shipbuilding restructuring. The cost is estimated to be £3.9 billion.