Queenie was a caricature of the historical figure Queen Elizabeth I of England, played by Miranda Richardson in the second series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England. Though only twice referred to as "Queenie" in the series (once by Lord Flashheart and once as self-reference in her poem for Blackadder's voyage), this name is commonly used by the general public. Queenie was an elephant who was used to give rides for children at Melbourne Zoo for 40 years. ... This article is about the English as an ethnic group and nation. ... This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. For information about other Commonwealth realm monarchies, as well as other relevant articles, see... List of Blackadder episodes Bells is the first episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. ... Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999) was created for showing during 2000 in a cinema built near the Millennium Dome, by Sky Television and the BBC, with sponsorship from—among others—Tesco PLC. Spoiler warning: Blackadder is entertaining guests on New Years Eve, 1999. ... Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an Academy Award nominated English actress. ... For the book of comics by Daniel Clowes see Caricature (Daniel Clowes collection) A caricature of film comedian Charlie Chaplin. ... This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. For information about other Commonwealth realm monarchies, as well as other relevant articles, see... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an Academy Award nominated English actress. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Blackadder (disambiguation). ... Elizabethan redirects here. ... Motto Dieu et mon droit(French) God and my right Territory of the Kingdom of England Capital Winchester; London from 11th century Language(s) Old English (de facto, until 1066) Anglo-Norman language (de jure, 1066 - 15th century) English (de facto, gradually replaced French from late 13th century) Government Monarchy... Lord Flashheart is the name of two characters (the first presumably an ancestor of the second) who appeared in two episodes of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. ...

Character

Far from the usual regal and austere depiction of Elizabeth I, 'Queenie', as she came to be known, was often childish and silly, but possessing a fiery temper. She would readily threaten her courtiers with execution if they did not do as she wished (or even just on a whim). A courtier is a person who attends upon, and thus receives a privileged position from, a powerful person, usually a head of state. ...

She was portrayed as exhibiting the mannerisms of a spoilt schoolgirl who just happened to possess the kind of casual, autocratic power that could have someone put to death if their nose was prettier than hers - a power which she revelled in. It has been remarked that she closely resembles the spoilt little girl Violet Elizabeth Bott, who is featured in the William books of Richmal Crompton and who is in the habit of ordering little boys about imperiously, lisping and tantrums; "I'll thweam and thweam until I'm thsick!". The William books would have been extremely popular with British children thirty years ago, though their popularity has somewhat waned. William makes friends with his teachers new beau, much to her annoyance (from the story The Fall of the Idol) Just William is the first book of childrens short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. ... // See William (name) for information about the name. ... Richmal Crompton Lamburn (1890–1969) Richmal Crompton Lamburn (November 15, 1890–January 11, 1969) was a British writer, most famous for her Just William short stories. ... Just William is the first book of childrens short stories about William Brown written by Richmal Crompton, published in 1922. ...

As her fancies were usually based on a fleeting whim, her courtiers, toadies, and favourites were frequently kept on their toes when trying to please (or, just as often, not upset) her.

It would appear that there was nothing Queenie liked more than to "get squiffy and seduce nobles" (and force presents off them on pain of death), when she wasn't beheading them. A naughty schoolgirl at heart, Queenie loved to party, play games and get drunk. And if anyone failed to smile, let alone laugh at her jokes, they risked execution, but, to her followers' bemusement and frustration, she sometimes tired of their toadying and welcomed a more cynical approach. Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ...

Character Development

Blackadder II

Throughout series two of Blackadder Queenie plays an important role, frequently ordering Lord Blackadder to Richmond Palace (in which she would always be in the company of her deranged former nurse, Nursie and the toadying Lord Melchett). She commands Blackadder to carry out a variety of tasks, some important (such as appointing Blackadder as the Lord High Executioner in "Head") and some petty (such as repeatedly summoning Blackadder to her only for it to turn out as a childish practical joke designed to extract money from him in "Money"). The only times she is seen out of her palace are to visit a prisoner up for execution and to sneak into Blackadder's "boy's party", the latter resulting in her getting drunk then forgetting what she was going to do, which was execute everyone at the party. Despite her behaviour, the audience is occasionally given cause to wonder if her feelings for Edmund actually go beyond casual flirtation and border on something deeper. Other pursuits she enjoys include writing poetry and attending fancy dress parties. The final episode of series two documents that she was brutally murdered in 1566 by Prince Ludwig the Indestructible, who then, disguised as the Queen, assumed her identity, presumably reigning for 37 years, dying in 1603. This would explain Elizabeth's refusal ever to marry. For other uses, see Blackadder (disambiguation). ... Edmund, Lord Blackadder (1531-1566) was the main character in the second series of the popular BBC sit-com Blackadder. ... A royal residence 1327-1649, on The Green, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey. ... Patsy Byrne as the character Nursie on Blackadder. ... Melchett is a fictional character in the Blackadder series, played by Stephen Fry. ... Head is the second episode of the BBC period comedy Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. ... Money is an episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder. ... Events January 7 - Pius V becomes Pope Selim II succeeds Suleiman I as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Religious rioting in the Netherlands signifies the beginning of the Eighty Years War in the Netherlands. ... Prince Ludwig the Indestructible (sometimes the sobriquet evil appears before the word Prince) is a fictional character played by Hugh Laurie in the BBC sitcom Blackadder II. He appears in Chains, the final episode of Blackadder II, as a master of disguise who kidnaps Lord Blackadder and his rival, Melchett... Year 1603 (MDCIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Blackadder Goes Forth

Miranda Richardson also plays the role of Nurse Mary, a spy reminiscent of Mata Hari, in the Blackadder Goes Forth episode General Hospital. Mata Hari, exotic dancer and convicted spy, made her name synonymous with femme fatale during World War I. For the Indonesian supermarket/department store chain, see Matahari. ... Blackadder Goes Forth was the fourth and final series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 28 September to 2 November 1989. ... General Hospital is the penultimate episode of the fourth series of the BBC One sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth. ...

Non-series appearances

Miranda Richardson reprised the role of Queenie in Blackadder's Christmas Carol in which she bans Christmas because it bores her, then decides to execute Edmund because he didn't get her a present. Naturally, he escapes his fate, and manages to get Melchett executed instead. She also plays Queen Asphyxia XIX, ruler of the Universe. Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999) was created for showing during 2000 in a cinema built near the Millennium Dome, by Sky Television and the BBC, with sponsorship from—among others—Tesco PLC. Spoiler warning: Blackadder is entertaining guests on New Years Eve, 1999. ... Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999) was created for showing during 2000 in a cinema built near the Millennium Dome, by Sky Television and the BBC, with sponsorship from—among others—Tesco PLC. Spoiler warning: Blackadder is entertaining guests on New Years Eve, 1999. ... Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an Academy Award nominated English actress. ... Blackadder in Blackadders Christmas Carol Blackadders Christmas Carol (1988) is a one-off episode of Blackadder, a parody of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. ... Blackadder in Blackadders Christmas Carol Blackadders Christmas Carol (1988) is a one-off episode of Blackadder, a parody of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. ... Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an Academy Award nominated English actress. ... Blackadder in Blackadders Christmas Carol Blackadders Christmas Carol (1988) is a one-off episode of Blackadder, a parody of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. ...

In the millennium special Blackadder: Back & Forth, she reprises the role, and also plays a modern-day Sloane Ranger version of Queenie called Lady Elizabeth. A millennium (pl. ... Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999) was created for showing during 2000 in a cinema built near the Millennium Dome, by Sky Television and the BBC, with sponsorship from—among others—Tesco PLC. Spoiler warning: Blackadder is entertaining guests on New Years Eve, 1999. ... The term Sloane Ranger (often pluralised to just Sloanes or Sloanies) originally referred to the young upper- and upper-middle-class men and women living in West London. ...

Quotes

• Melchett: I'm very sorry, madam. Your royal father used to be very amused by my impersonation of Columbus.
  Queen: That doesn't surprise me. He used to laugh at...those people with the funny faces and the bells.
  Melchett: Ah, jesters, ma'am.
  Queen: No... (pauses to remember) ...lepers.
• Queen: What do you think, Melchy?
  Melchett: I am astonished, Your Majesty, that Lord Blackadder should have eyes for any other woman than yourself.
  Queen: Good point, though slightly grovelly.
  Blackadder: But you see, your highness, when I first saw her, I thought she was a man.
  Melchett: (sarcastically) Oh, of course, that makes it perfectly acceptable.
• Queen: Is her nose as pretty as mine?
  Blackadder: Oh no no no no no no no, ma'am.
  Queen: Oh good. Because otherwise I would have cut it off, and then you'd have to marry someone without a nose and that wouldn't be very nice, would it?
  Blackadder: No, ma'am.
  Queen: I mean, imagine the mess when she'd get a cold, yuck!
• Melchett: Grey, I suspect Majesty.
  Queen: I think you'll find it was orange, Lord Melchett.
  Melchett: Grey is more usual ma'am.
  Queen: Who's queen?
  Melchett: As you say, Majesty. There were these magnificent orange elephants...
• I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a concrete elephant.
• First, I'm going to have a little drinky, and then I'm going to execute the whole bally lot of you.
• Sometimes I think about having you executed just to see the expression on your face.
• If we went around punishing people for being stupid, Nursie would have been in prison all her life.
• Prince Ludwig: After a long and careful deliberation, the Queen has decided to spend the money on...
  (Cut to the Queen writing her response.)
  Queen: ...a big party. Just impossible to choose between my two faves, so I've decided to keep the cash, have a wizard jolly time and try to forget both of you. Hope you're not too miffed. Byeee!
  (Cut back to Blackadder)
  Blackadder: What?!?
  Prince Ludwig: (looks at letter) Hope you're not too miffed. Bye-ee.
• Queen: It's just like those parties we used to have when I was young. We'd have tea and cakes, and then a little trip with my little friends to the executions.
  Percy: How sweet.
  Queen: If I wanted any of my little friends executed, that is.
• Nursie! You've killed Nursie! That's horrid!

Christopher Columbus (1451 – May 20, 1506) was a navigator and colonialist who is one of the first Europeans to discover the Americas, after the Vikings. ...

References