Oldest woman in the world and last living subject of Queen Victoria dies, aged 117

The oldest person in the world, a Jamaican woman who was 117-years-old and the last living subject of Queen Victoria, has died.

Violet Mosse Brown, who worked on a Caribbean sugar plantation, died in Jamaica at around 2.30pm on Friday.

She became the world’s oldest person in April after Italian Emma Morano, who was also 117, died.

Mrs Mosse Brown, who was born on March 10 1900 and lived in North West Jamaica, was the mother of six and a great-grandmother several times over.

In an interview with the Jamaican Observer to celebrate her 110th birthday, she said her secrets to living to such an old age were eating cows feet, not drinking rum and reading the bible.

“Really and truly, when people ask what me eat and drink to live so long, I say to them that I eat everything, except pork and chicken, and I don't drink rum and them things,” she said.

“You know, sometimes I ask myself, 'Am I really 110 years old?' because I don't feel like 110.”

Her carer added: “She likes fish and mutton and sometimes she will have cow foot, but she does not eat pork or chicken.

“She also likes sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, breadfruit, and fruits, especially oranges and mangoes.”

Following the news of her death, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted his condolences.

Mrs Mosse Brown, who was the last person to have lived under the reign of Queen Victoria when Jamaica was part of the British West Indies, was sent a plaque by Queen Elizabeth II when she became the oldest citizen of the Commonwealth.

Following her death, 117-year-old Nabi Tajima, of Japan, has become the world’s oldest person.