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They say each birthday is a blessing, and one woman living in southeast England has had 117 of them.
The woman, Ethel Caterham, turns 117 years old on Friday, Aug. 21. Crowned Guinness World Records’ oldest living person in mid-spring 2025, Caterham is keeping her birthday festivities low-key this year at her care home.
Caterham is the first British person ever to turn 117, and the 13th person to celebrate their 117th birthday worldwide, said Ben Meyers, chief executive officer of LongeviQuest, a supercentenarian research organization that keeps track of the world’s oldest people.
Here’s what we know about the supercentenarian and how she celebrated her birthday.
‘I’ve had many firsts this year’
Caterham lives in a care home in Surrey, about 32 miles southwest of London, LongeviQuest told USA TODAY on Aug. 21.
This week, she reflected on the past year in a statement sent to LongeviQuest, including the time she got a visit from a royal Brit in September.
“Thank you for all of the kind birthday wishes,” she said in a statement to LongeviQuest this week. “Even at 117, I’ve had many firsts this year, from stroking a llama to holding hands with the King.”
On Sept. 18, King Charles III traveled to visit Caterham after she said she wanted to meet him. The pair held hands as he introduced himself to her. She put on her best threads that day to impress him, opting for gold, fur-lined sequined slippers, a sage dress and a pale pink shawl, LongeviQuest said.
The meeting was also quite special because Caterham is the last surviving subject of the king’s great-great grandfather, Edward VII.
“I remember when your mother crowned you at Caernarfon Castle,” Caterham told the king.
As she spoke to the king, she remembered a garden party she attended with her late husband, Norman, in the 1960s at Buckingham Palace. She also recalled how back in the day, the girls couldn’t get enough of King Charles, then just a prince.
“All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you,” she said.
More on the world’s oldest living person
Multiple organizations have validated Caterham’s age, including the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) and LongeviQuest on Jan. 31, 2023.
With more and more birthdays coming and going, Caterham has broken multiple records both in England and worldwide.
Among her accomplishments are:
- January 2019 – Became the oldest known living person in the county of Surrey at 109 years old.
- January 2022 – Became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom at 112 years old.
- October 2022 – Became the last surviving subject of Edward VII worldwide at 113 years old.
- April 2025 – Became the oldest British person ever at 115 years old.
In a 2020 BBC interview, Caterham told community members her secret to living such a long life. Arguing is a big no no for her, she said.
“I listen to what they say, and then do as I like,” she said.
Get to know Ethel Caterham
Caterham was born on Aug. 21, 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England. She grew up in Wiltshire and was the seventh of eight children. As she has recounted her upbringing over the years, she described it as simple. Her family had no electricity or running water, they grew their own vegetables and also had a pig.
When she was 18 years old, she got a job as a nanny for a British family moving to India, LongeviQuest said. She took a three-week trip via ship and spent three years in India before returning to England.
Once back in England, she met her husband, Norman Caterham, in 1931. He was a major in the British Army. The couple had two daughters and lived in Hong Kong at one point. While in Hong Kong, Caterham opened a nursery and taught English. She eventually returned to the United Kingdom in 1960.
Now, the 117-year-old mother of two has three granddaughters and spends her time sitting in the sunshine, listening to birds, smelling the flowers in her garden and when she’s up for it, playing trivia and listening to her favorite singers, LongeviQuest said.
Ethel is celebrating her 117th with Frank Sinatra music
According to Meyers, from LongeviQuest, Caterham is celebrating her birthday with a Frank Sinatra impersonator. One of the songs he’ll sing, “Three Coins In A Fountain,” is her favorite.
“Three coins in the fountain,” the song goes. “Each one seeking happiness. Thrown by three hopeful lovers. Which one will the fountain bless?”
Hundreds of people from around the world have wished Caterham a happy birthday this year, including the world’s oldest man, João Marinho Neto of Brazil (113), English supercentenarian Hilda Luck (112) and Welshman Owen Filer (106), LongeviQuest said.
Neto’s family sent Caterham a photo of him holding a sign with her photo on it. Also photographed was the phrase “Parabéns Ethel,” a Portuguese phrase that is often used to say “Congratulations” or “Happy Birthday!”
Caterham said she’s excited for the future, per LongeviQuest.
“I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings,” Caterham said.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.