Why Incomparable would have displaced Hood as the fleet's prestige ship

If Hood and HMS Incomparable had both been built, would Incomparable have become the pride of the Royal Navy?

Probably yes; the fleet's largest ship usually held that informal prestige, and Incomparable would have exceeded Hood in size.

If HMS Incomparable and Hood had both entered service, the larger Incomparable would probably have become the Royal Navy's prestige ship. That informal status usually followed the biggest ship in the fleet rather than a separate tactical appointment. The modern Queen Elizabeth-class carriers show that even sister ships built to the same plans can differ slightly in overall length. Size alone would not decide combat value, but it could shape which vessel the navy and public regarded as the fleet's leading symbol.