Blackadder Empire in 1453, predating the events in the episode by 33 years); this dramatic licence would continue in the subsequent "Blackadders". The filming of the series was highly ambitious, with a large cast and much location shooting. The series also featured Shakespearean dialogue, often adapted for comic effect; the end credits featured the words "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare". "Blackadder II" is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), who is portrayed by Miranda Richardson. The principal character is Edmund, Lord Blackadder, the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he regularly deals with
Queen Elizabeth 2 ship with the words "I name this ship "Queen Elizabeth the Second"," the normal short form of address of the monarch, Elizabeth II herself. The following day, the "New York Times" and "British Times" printed the name as "Queen Elizabeth II", the short form of written style of the monarch. However, when the liner left the shipyard in 1968 she bore the name "Queen Elizabeth 2" on her bow, and has continued to do so ever since. In an authorised history of "Queen Elizabeth 2" published in 1969, various explanations of events occur. These state that, as at the launch