Quote: "Appalling old wax works." Prince Charles, referring to the leaders of Communist China in 1997 journal excerpts just published by a London newspaper.
Figure of Speech: periphrasis (per IF rah sis), the figure that swaps a description for a proper name.
Who knew the jug-eared royal was such a poet? Our estimation for the perpetual prince goes way up, thanks to his use of a periphrasis (Greek for "to speak around").
The Brits seem especially good at this form of circumlocution. There's He- who- must- not- be- named in the Harry Potter books, and She- who- must- be- obeyed in John Mortimer's Rumpole mysteries.
And then there's Figaro, who snuck in three periphrases ("jug-eared royal," "perpetual prince" and "Your Weirdship" below) and feels very proud of himself.
Snappy Answer: "Didn't you once tell Camilla you wished you were a tampon? That's appalling."