Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday, becoming the first British citizen officially verified to reach the milestone.

Caterham, who was born on August 21, 1909, marked the occasion with family and friends at her care home in Surrey, England, according to Guinness World Records.

“I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings,” she told the UK’s PA Media news agency.

Ben Meyers, Chief Executive Officer of LongeviQuest, described her achievement as a historic milestone for the United Kingdom. He said Caterham is now the first Briton to reach the age of 117, the 13th oldest verified person in history, and the last known living person born before 1910.

Caterham’s life has spanned some of the most significant events in modern history, including two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the Russian Revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also survived COVID-19 in 2020 at the age of 110.

Born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, she was the second youngest of eight children and is the last surviving person born during the reign of King Edward VII.

At the age of 18, she travelled alone to India to work as a nanny before marrying Major Norman Caterham in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral. The couple later lived in Hong Kong, where she established a nursery, before returning to Surrey.

Caterham was visited by King Charles III shortly after her 116th birthday in 2025. During the meeting, she recalled his 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales, joking that many young women wanted to marry him.

She outlived her husband, who died in 1976, as well as both of her daughters. She is survived by three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.

Her remarkable longevity continues to attract interest from researchers studying the factors that contribute to healthy ageing and long life.