The world’s oldest living person, Ethel Caterham, just turned 116. And no, she didn’t throw a massive party or give interviews. She did things her way: Quiet, calm, and full of grace.

Born on August 21, 1909, Ethel has seen more history than most of us could imagine. From the Russian Revolution to the two World Wars, she has lived through six British monarchs and 27 Prime Ministers. But on her birthday this year, she kept it simple. No headlines, no speeches, just family and peace in her care home in Lightwater, Surrey.

@guinnessworldrecords / Instagram / Ethel became the oldest verified living person in April 2025 after the passing of Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas from Brazil. That made Ethel not just Britain’s oldest woman, but the oldest person in the world.

Still, she doesn’t dwell on titles. She is more about enjoying a good cup of tea and doing things at her own pace.

She received a personal birthday card from King Charles III. It is not the first one either. He also sent one last year for her 115th. This time, the King called her age a “truly remarkable milestone.”

Never Argue, the World’s Oldest Living Person Suggests

So, what is her secret to being the oldest person alive? It is surprisingly down-to-earth. “Never arguing with anyone,” she says. That, and doing what she likes, saying yes to new opportunities, and keeping a positive attitude. She believes in moderation, not extremes. Nothing fancy, just steady living.

Ethel was born Ethel May Collins in Hampshire, England. As a young woman, she worked as an au pair in India. Later, she married Norman Caterham, an army lieutenant colonel.

They had two daughters together, but Ethel outlived her husband, who died in 1976, and sadly, both her children. She is now a grandmother of three and a great-grandmother of five. That is five generations in one family, a legacy few can claim.

@guinnessworldrecords / Instagram / In 2020, at the age of 110, Ethel even survived COVID-19. That alone would have been a headline!

But Ethel didn’t make much noise about it. She recovered quietly, like she handles everything: With calm strength!

While Ethel is now the oldest living person in the world, she is still short of the all-time record. Jeanne Calment from France holds that one, having lived to 122 years and 164 days. Still, Ethel is now the oldest British person ever officially recorded. That is history in and of itself.

She doesn’t give many interviews, and her family says that it is by choice. Ethel likes her space. On her birthday, she wanted no cameras, just quiet time with her loved ones. No cake-cutting ceremony, no social media splash, just love, reflection, and rest.

That doesn’t mean she is not proud. Her family shared how grateful they are for the kind messages from all over the world. They say Ethel has a sharp sense of humor and loves to tell stories when she is in the mood. She still reads, listens, and enjoys little things, like watching birds outside her window.

Becoming the oldest person alive isn’t something you plan. It just happens, one steady year at a time. But Ethel’s way of living, with kindness, curiosity, and calm, may have had more to do with it than she lets on. She is not loud, not flashy, just deeply rooted. And that is rare in a world that never slows down.

Sven Kramer

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