British woman Ethel Caterham, recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday, marking another extraordinary milestone in a life that has spanned more than a century.
Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England. She celebrated her latest birthday on Friday, August 21, 2026, becoming the first person in British history to reach the age of 117.
She currently lives at a care home in Surrey, where she marked the special occasion with family and friends. Her birthday was kept relatively private, with Caterham choosing to spend the day surrounded by people close to her.
In a message shared to mark the occasion, Caterham expressed appreciation for the birthday wishes she received and reflected on some of the memorable experiences she has had during the past year.
Her 117th birthday comes after a year that included several remarkable experiences. Among them was a meeting with King Charles III, who visited her at her Surrey care home in September 2025.
During their meeting, Caterham recalled watching Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969. The meeting became one of the notable moments in her extraordinary later life.
Caterham became the world’s oldest living person in April 2025, following the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas at the age of 116. Guinness World Records also recognises Caterham as the world’s oldest living woman.
Her life has covered some of the most significant events of modern history. Born during the reign of King Edward VII, she has lived through two World Wars and witnessed enormous changes in technology, transportation and society.
Caterham was one of eight children and later travelled abroad during her younger years. At the age of 18, she went to India, where she worked as an au pair for a British family. She later married British Army officer Norman Caterham in 1933.
The couple lived in several countries during their marriage, including Hong Kong, where Caterham established a kindergarten. Her husband died in 1976, while her two daughters also passed away before her. She is now a grandmother and great-grandmother.
Caterham has previously spoken about her approach to life when asked about her remarkable longevity. She has suggested that avoiding unnecessary arguments and maintaining an agreeable attitude have contributed to her long life.
Despite reaching an age few people have ever achieved, Caterham remains short of the record for the oldest person ever verified. That record belongs to Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.
Guinness World Records describes Caterham’s latest milestone as historic, noting that she is the 13th-oldest person ever verified and the last known living person born before 1910.
Her 117th birthday has therefore become another remarkable chapter in an already extraordinary life, as family, friends and people around the world celebrate a woman whose lifetime has witnessed more than a century of history.
King Charles had a touching moment with the world’s oldest living person, 116-year-old Ethel Caterham, who told him that “all the girls were in love” with him when he was invested as Prince of Wales in 1969 🥹#kingcharles #royalfamily
📽️: @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/aDXMCeBHdB— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) September 21, 2025
Source: Thepressradio.com
