Not diets and workouts. This 115-year-old woman has survived two world wars. What is her secret to long life?

In a world obsessed with biohacking, superfoods, and anti-ageing serums, the secret to a long and fulfilling life might just be far simpler than we think. Ask Ethel Caterham—the British supercentenarian who, at 115 years old, has now been named the world’s oldest living person. But what is the secret to her long life?

According to The Guardian, following the passing of 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, Caterham now holds the title, as officially confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest. Her advice for long life? “Never argue with anyone. I listen and I do what I like.” Yet despite the milestone, Caterham’s approach to life has always been unassuming, grounded in quiet resilience and an unshakeable sense of self.

Ethel Caterham- First British and last known living subject of Edward VII

Born in Hampshire in 1909, Ethel Caterham’s life has spanned an astonishing breadth of history, from the reign of Edward VII to the coronation of King Charles III, who recently congratulated her on her “truly remarkable milestone.” She is, in fact, the last known living subject of Edward VII, and the first Briton to hold the world’s oldest person title since 1987.

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But beyond her age, it’s Caterham’s attitude that continues to inspire. A self-described listener who avoids conflict and follows her own path, she’s weathered the highs and lows of life without letting them knock her spirit. “I’ve taken everything in my stride,” she once told BBC Radio Surrey.

Her Indian connection

At 18, she moved to British India as an au pair for a military family, a bold journey for a young woman of her time. She often spoke fondly of her time in India, recalling how the family she worked for—and their household staff—embraced both British customs and Indian traditions like Tiffin and Tea.
Ethel returned to England after spending three formative years in the country and, in 1931, met her future husband, Major Norman Caterham of the British Army, at a dinner party. They married in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, a meaningful venue as Norman had once been a choirboy there. He later rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps.

The couple’s life together took them across the world, including postings in Gibraltar and Hong Kong, before eventually settling in England’s Surrey, where Ethel has lived for the last 50 years. Today, Caterham lives in a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, surrounded by three granddaughters, five great-grandchildren.