Ethel Caterham Celebrates 117th Birthday at Surrey Care Home

The world’s oldest living person, Ethel Caterham, has celebrated her 117th birthday surrounded by family and friends at her Surrey care home.

Ms Caterham marked the milestone on Monday at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, where she has lived in recent years. Her birthday comes as she continues to close in on the verified record for the longest human lifespan.

Born in 1909, Ms Caterham has witnessed more than a century of extraordinary social and historical change, including two world wars, the sinking of the Titanic and the Russian Revolution.

She is also believed to be the oldest person ever to have survived COVID-19 after contracting the virus in 2020, and is the last known living person born during the reign of King Edward VII.

Her remarkable longevity attracted further national attention last year when King Charles visited her following her becoming the world’s oldest living person.

During their meeting, Ms Caterham amused the King by recalling his popularity when she was younger, telling him: “All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.”

Ms Caterham succeeded Brazilian-born nun Inah Canabarro Lucas as the world’s oldest living person in 2025.

Despite reaching an age few people ever attain, she has remained active for much of her life. She continued driving until the age of 97 and enjoyed playing contract bridge well into her 100s.

Longevity also appears to have run in her family. Her sister, Gladys, lived to the age of 104.

Ms Caterham now has her sights on the record for the oldest person ever verified. That distinction remains with Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

Her 117th birthday marks another significant milestone in an extraordinary life spanning three centuries and offering a remarkable personal perspective on more than a century of history.