World’s Oldest Person Ethel Caterham Celebrates 117th Birthday

Ethel Caterham, recognized as the world’s oldest living person, celebrated her 117th birthday on August 21, 2026, at a nursing home in Lightwater, Surrey, according to reports from outlets including Grazia France and 20 Minuten. Born prior to the sinking of the Titanic in 1909, Caterham marked the milestone surrounded by friends and family.

A Life Spanning Global History

Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Ethel Caterham is the second youngest of eight children. According to reporting by Grazia, she stands as the last living person born during the reign of King Edward VII, who died in May 1910. Her life has bridged two world wars.

Her early adulthood was defined by international mobility. In 1927, at age 18, she traveled by boat to India to work as an au pair for a military family. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, she met Norman Caterham, a British army officer she married in 1933. The couple’s postings took them to Gibraltar and Hong Kong, where Caterham established a nursery school.

Endurance, Independence, and the Longevity Milestone

Caterham’s survival through major historical shocks includes contracting and recovering from Covid-19 at the age of 110 in 2020. She maintained her independence well into later life, driving a car until she was 97 and continuing to play bridge past her centenary. When asked about her secret to longevity, she offered a characteristic perspective recorded by Grazia: “Ne jamais se disputer avec personne : j’écoute, et je fais ce qu’il me plaît”—translating to a philosophy of listening without arguing and following one’s own course.

She became the world’s oldest person in April 2025 following the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas. More recently, she received a visit from King Charles III. Holding his hand during the encounter, she referenced his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales, remarking that young women at the time had wanted to marry him.

The Global Context of Extreme Longevity

While Caterham holds the title of the world’s oldest living person, the all-time verified longevity record remains held by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days, as documented by Guinness World Records. As Ethel Caterham looks forward to her 118th year following a celebration marked by touching a llama and holding the King’s hand, her extraordinary span serves as a living archive of the modern geopolitical era.