The British supercentenarian marked her birthday on Friday, August 21, 2026, with a quiet celebration at the care home where she lives in England.
Caterham was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person in 2025. She is the first British person to reach the age of 117 and the 13th person in recorded history to achieve the milestone.
She said she was delighted to receive numerous birthday messages and reflected on a year that brought her happiness and new experiences.
One of the highlights was a visit from King Charles III on September 18, 2025, after Caterham had expressed a wish to meet him.
The meeting was particularly significant because Caterham is believed to be the last living person who was a subject of King Edward VII, who ruled Britain from 1901 to 1910. Edward VII was the father of George V, who in turn was the father of George VI. George VI later became the father of Queen Elizabeth II, the mother of King Charles III.
Ethel Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England. She grew up in Wiltshire as the seventh of eight children in a family that lived a simple life without electricity or running water. The family grew vegetables and raised pigs.
At the age of 18, she took a job as a nanny for a British family moving to India. After a three-week journey by ship, she spent three years in India before returning to Britain.
In 1931, she met and married Norman Caterham, a senior officer in the British Army. The couple had two daughters and later lived in Hong Kong, where Caterham opened a nursery school teaching English. She returned to Britain in 1960.
A mother of two and grandmother of three, Caterham now enjoys sitting in the sunshine, listening to birds and spending time among the flowers in her garden.
In an interview with the BBC in 2020, Caterham said one of the secrets to her long life was avoiding arguments.
“I listen to what they say, then I do what I want,” she said.
Over the years, Caterham has broken several age records. In January 2019, she became Surrey’s oldest resident at the age of 109. In January 2022, she became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom at 112, and in April 2025, she became the first British person to reach the age of 115.
Her 117th birthday celebration included a Frank Sinatra tribute singer, reflecting her love for the legendary American performer.
Among those sending birthday wishes was João Marinho Neto of Brazil, the world’s oldest living man, aged 113.
Caterham said she was happy to celebrate the milestone with family and friends and is now looking forward to seeing what the coming year will bring.
