STORY
Ethel Caterham, recognised as the world’s oldest living person, is celebrating her 117th birthday at her care home in Surrey. Caterham was born in Hampshire on 21 August 1909 and became the world’s oldest person in May 2025 following the death of a 116 year old Brazilian nun.
Her 116th year included a visit from King Charles, who met her at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home last September. Caterham told the King that she remembered watching his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 and joked that all the girls at the time had wanted to marry him. She said meeting the King had been one of the highlights of her year.
Caterham is the last surviving person who was a subject of Edward VII, who died in 1910. Six monarchs have occupied the British throne during her lifetime: Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II and Charles III. She is spending her birthday with friends and family at the care home.