
The world鈥檚 oldest person had a royal visitor over the weekend after she commemorated another milestone birthday in August.
King Charles III met with Ethel Caterham on Saturday to celebrate her 116th birthday, the Daily Mail reports, after sending her a congratulatory letter for her special day last year.
Wearing a pair of ornate green slippers and a pink shawl, Caterham seemed to be in a spritely mood as she met the monarch.
鈥淎ll the girls were in love with you,鈥 Caterham is said to have remarked of watching the King鈥檚 investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in the 1960s.
Characteristic of his self-deprecating sense of humour, the King responded, 鈥淵es, well, all that鈥檚 left of him anyway鈥.
He laughed as one of Caterham鈥檚 granddaughters suggested it was a comment she had heard her grandmother make before.
The pair also reportedly spoke fondly of a Buckingham Palace garden party Caterham attended in the 1960s.
Caterham said the secret to her long life is 鈥渘ever arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like鈥.
The world鈥檚 previous oldest person, Sister Inah Canabarro of Brazil, died on April 30, passing the auspicious mantle to Caterham.
The supercentenarian has survived her husband Norman and both of her daughters, Gem and Anne.
Born on August 21, 1909, Caterham has lived through a host of major global events, from the sinking of the Titanic to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She spent time in India, Hong Kong and Gibraltar before she and her family relocated to Surrey, Britain, where she has spent the past 50 years.
Now based in a local care home there, Caterham told BBC Radio Surrey last year she has taken life鈥檚 鈥渉ighs and lows鈥 in her stride.
鈥淚鈥檝e been all over the world and I鈥檝e ended up in this lovely home, where everyone is falling over themselves for me, giving me everything I want.鈥
She celebrated her most recent birthday alongside her three granddaughters and five great-granddaughters.
Earlier in the year, she received a birthday message from the world鈥檚 oldest man, Brazil鈥檚 Jo茫o Marinho Neto.
Marinho Neto, 112, posed for a photo with a picture of Caterham and a sign that read Ethel Feliz Anivers谩rio 鈥 鈥淗appy Birthday Ethel鈥 in his native Portuguese.
It is believed to be the only interaction between the oldest man and oldest woman in history.
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