Life as the world's oldest people: when your birthday hits headlines and the King visits
When you’re one of the world’s oldest people, your birthday isn’t just an international news story, it’s worthy of a royal visit.
That was the case for Ethel Caterham (UK), the world’s oldest woman and overall oldest person, who recently had King Charles III pop by her care home to wish her a happy 116th birthday.
In a picture shared on the Royal Family’s X account, the King is seen bending to shake Ethel’s hand, with the birthday card he sent her proudly displayed in the background.
When Ethel met The King 🤝
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 23, 2025
Ethel Caterham was announced as the world's oldest person on 30 April 2025. She was born before the Titanic sank, before the First World War began and before Einstein published his theory of general relativity. https://t.co/hoEYtZInRT
In the UK, people receive a birthday card from the reigning monarch when they turn 100, 105, and every year thereafter.
So, Ethel has got a bit of a collection going.
And today, Ethel – and her male counterpart, the world’s oldest man João Marinho Neto (Brazil) – have another reason to celebrate.
Ethel pictured in August
It’s the International Day of Older Persons.
To mark the occasion, we’ve checked in on Ethel and João with the help of supercentenarian database keepers LongeviQuest, who recently helped us understand why the oldest person is hardly ever a man.
As well as her own personal royal visit, Ethel celebrated her big day on 21 August with a party at her care home.
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Ethel with care home director Inder Hanzra and another staff member
In these new pictures shared by her care home and LongeviQuest, she’s seen being serenaded by a Frank Sinatra impersonator.
Her family members were all in attendance at her party, and she also tucked into her favourite meal, chicken curry, which was cooked up for her by her care home director Inder Hanzra, followed by some lemon drizzle cake.
Ethel is the first British person to ever turn 116, and as of today she’s the 29th oldest person to have ever lived.
Ethel being serenaded by a Frank Sinatra impersonator
The superlative senior was also visited by LongeviQuest’s lead UK researcher Ben Hinchcliffe.
He told us that she was energetic and happy.
She sang a WWI-era song and also shared a sad tale about how one of her brothers went off to fight in the war and never made it back home.
Ethel with Ben Hinchcliffe from LongeviQuest
Ben says Ethel also offered advice that it’s important to have a hobby after you retire – hers was playing the card game Bridge, something she says helped her make friends who still stop by to visit her.
Over 4,000 miles away in Brazil, João is doing well and fast approaching his 113th birthday on 5 October.
Experts at LongeviQuest say João is enjoying his time in the limelight and loves telling people: “There are no men older than me, just women!”
João wishing Ethel a happy birthday
He’s become a big star in Brazilian media, and his upcoming birthday is set to be quite the celebration, with his family planning a big party.
He also excitedly wished Ethel a happy birthday, with his family making him a special picture to pose with.
His granddaughter Valéria said João was excited when he heard about the occasion and said: “Ethel, Happy Birthday 116!” in Portuguese.
LongeviQuest experts say this is the first known communication between the world’s oldest man and world’s oldest woman during their reigns.
As of today, João is the 26th oldest man to ever live.
One thing’s for sure – both Ethel and João are Officially Amazing!
Pictures courtesy of LongeviQuest and Ethel’s care home