Originally due to be retired in 2016, Ark Royal was instead decommissioned on 11 March 2011, as part of the Navy restructuring portion of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Ursprungligen beräknades hon att gå i pension 2016 men istället utrangerades Ark Royal den 11 mars 2011 som en del av flottans omstruktureringsdel av 2010 års Strategic Defence and Security Review.