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Ethel Caterham Celebrates 117th Birthday as World's Oldest Living Person

The milestone underscores verified extreme longevity, drawing renewed public attention after her Guinness World Records title and a high-profile royal meeting.

Overview

  • She turned 117 on Friday, August 21, 2026, and marked the day with a private celebration at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey, surrounded by family and friends.
  • Guinness World Records named Caterham the world's oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, and Guinness confirmed its birthday message to her this year.
  • Caterham has lived through six monarchs since her 1909 birth and is described in reporting as the last surviving subject of King Edward VII.
  • Her recent public moments include a September 2025 visit from King Charles III, who held her hand during their meeting, and widespread media attention to her recovery from Covid-19 in 2020 at age 110.
  • Caterham credits simple habits for her longevity—avoiding arguments, listening and enjoying life in moderation—and remains well short of the all-time verified lifespan of Jeanne Calment at 122 years.