 Prince of Wales was originally named King Edward VIII but upon the abdication of Edward VIII the ship was renamed even before she had been laid down . This occurred at Cammell Laird 's shipyard in Birkenhead on 1 January 1937 , although it was not until 3 May 1939 that she was launched . She was still fitting out when war was declared in September , causing her construction schedule , and that of her sister , King George V , to be accelerated . Nevertheless , the late delivery of gun mountings caused delays in her outfitting . 
