World's oldest living woman, 116, shares secret to a long life and it's not what you might think

The world's oldest living woman has shared what she thinks is the secret to her longevity.

Ethel Caterham was born in 1909 and turned 116 in 2025, while the previous year at her 115th birthday she said that she 'didn't know why there was all the fuss'.

That year Ethel received a letter from King Charles, who congratulated her on the 'truly remarkable milestone', as well as sending his 'warmest good wishes'.

After the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas earlier this year, Ethel, who lives at a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, became the oldest person in the world.

This has been confirmed by the Guinness World Records and LongeviQuest, which is a database of the oldest people around the globe.

And with such a long life comes a secret to how to live such a long time, which Ethel shared.

Ethel is 116 years old (Hallmark Care Homes)

She said that her secret to long life was 'never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like'.

Not only has Ethel become the oldest known person in the world, she is also one of the oldest people to have survived contracting Covid-19.

In 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ethel contracted the virus, for which elderly people are at particular risk.

But despite being 110 years old, Ethel survived the virus and has gone on to mark a remarkable milestone.

Mark McKinley is the director of records at Guinness World Records, and spoke to the BBC about the organisation's plans to meet Ethel.

He said: "Ethel never set out to be a record breaker. But we're hoping to meet her some time soon and present her with her certificate."

After being born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger in Hampshire, Ethel was raised in Tidworth in Wiltshire where she was the second youngest out of eight children.

Ethel was three years old when the Titanic sank (Ralph White/Getty)

This also makes her the last surviving person to have lived under Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria who died in 1910.

When she was 18 years old, Ethel was employed as an au pair by a family in India.

She married Norman Caterham at Salisbury Cathedral in 1933, and has three granddaughters and five great grandchildren.

It seems that Ethel is not the only member of her family with longevity, as her sister Gladys lived to 104.

Ethel has lived through the sinking of the Titanic, both world wars, the first moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the invention of the internet, the iPhone, and the release of TikTok.

A spokesperson for Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home, where Ethel lives, said: "What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived.

"Your strength, spirit and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here's to celebrating your remarkable journey."