[naturalman1975]

Certainly the situation must be serious.

But speaking as an historian, the language used in these announcements falls considerably short of those that have been used in the past if a monarch is actually dying.

For example, in 1936 - the last time a Monarch did not die suddenly, the language used in announcements included phrases like "The King's life is moving peacefully toward its close."

Historically, they do not cloud these things in euphemism.

But any illness is serious in a ninety-six year old woman.

[hanamizu]

But any illness is serious in a ninety-six year old woman.

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My mother died at 99 1/2. Her decline came rapidly. She was living independently and driving (in SoCal) until one day she couldn’t get out of bed. Hospital, to rehab, to hospice in less than a month. Looking back, I see it as a mercy. She wasn’t at all happy about the turn of events, but she didn’t have to endure them very long.