Giorgia Montebello’s eyes smile as she cuts the cake marking her 103rd birthday.

The great-grandmother of 16 has survived two world wars, seen the turn of the new century... and everything in between.

She outlived her husband Ġużeppi, who passed away in 1977, and three of her children whom she lost during World War II.

But a twinkle in her eyes showed the woman’s excitement as family members crowding her tiny dining room made way for President George Abela, who shares his birthday with Ms Montebello.

The president, 64, exchanged flowers with the woman who brought up five children with “work and strong will” while her husband was at sea.

Although she now has a great-great-grandchild, Ms Montebello – known as Giorgia tal-ħanut – was a busy woman who spent all of her working hours at a grocery shop and the rest with her children.

Her son Joe, 79, said: “We have very fond memories of our mum. She is a very generous woman.

“I remember whenever our father returned from overseas he would bring loads of food products with him, which she would immediately share with our neighbours in Fawwara alley in Sliema.”