World’s oldest person Ethel Caterham celebrates 117th birthday

Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday, becoming the first British person to reach the milestone.

Caterham, who lives in a care home in Surrey, marked her birthday on Friday with family and friends. She was recognised as the world’s oldest living person in 2025 following verification by Guinness World Records and longevity experts LongeviQuest.

“I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings,” Caterham told PA Media.

Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Caterham is the second youngest of eight children. She is also the last surviving person born during the reign of King Edward VII.

Her 117 years have spanned two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the Russian Revolution and the Covid-19 pandemic. She contracted Covid-19 in 2020 at the age of 110 and recovered.

Caterham travelled alone to India at 18, where she worked as a nanny for a military family. She later met British Army Major Norman Caterham, and they married in 1933. The couple lived in several countries, including Hong Kong, where she established a kindergarten.

King Charles III visited Caterham in September 2025, shortly after her 116th birthday. During their meeting, she recalled his 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales.

Caterham has three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren. The verified record for the longest human lifespan remains held by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.

With inputs from GWR.