Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes's Wife Relaxes Visitation Rules Amid Welfare Concerns

The wife of renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is now permitting select friends and family to visit the 82-year-old, who has Parkinson's disease, following mounting concerns about his welfare. Louise Millington-Cotes, Sir Ranulph's second wife, had previously implemented stringent limitations on who could see the adventurer.

Ms. Millington-Cotes, 59, has reportedly shared Sir Ranulph's location with a small group and allowed some visits to the specialist dementia unit where he is being cared for. However, her son, Alex Millington-Cotes, 31, has been denied access, expressing fears he may never see his stepfather again.

Several relatives and friends are pursuing a Court of Protection hearing to scrutinize whether Ms. Millington-Cotes is properly managing her power of attorney. These actions come amid claims that she previously moved Sir Ranulph between care facilities and required visitors to sign non-disclosure agreements that prohibited them from disclosing his whereabouts.

While those who have seen Sir Ranulph report that he is receiving good care and is accompanied by a dedicated carer, ongoing restrictions on access remain a point of concern.

"We want to know – has she acted in his best interests?" a source close to Sir Ranulph told The Telegraph. "One can't help but feel that being in a good place with a gentle stream of familiar faces to break up the day will keep him feeling loved and supported, and that can only be a good thing."

Alex Millington-Cotes, who is estranged from his mother, has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to cover legal expenses aimed at "locating and safeguarding" the explorer. He has stated that his mother "hasn't acted right from the beginning."

Sir Ranulph, recognized by Guinness World Records as "the world's greatest living explorer," achieved the milestone of being the first person to reach both the North and South Poles by surface travel in the early 1980s. He was last publicly visible in a pre-recorded video at a Royal Geographical Society gala in October 2024, where he apologized for not being present due to not being "well enough."

Since that appearance, many of his close associates have experienced difficulty contacting him, leading to increasing worry about his well-being. A Daily Mail investigation last Saturday highlighted his absence from public view under the headline: "Where on earth is Ranulph Fiennes?"

The investigation uncovered that Sir Ranulph was moved between five different locations within a single year, including four care homes and a hotel. He spent 49 days at a care facility in Wales after arriving on January 21.

Lady Fiennes, who married Sir Ranulph in 2005, holds lasting power of attorney for both his financial and property affairs, as well as his health and welfare. However, Care Inspectorate Wales determined that Sir Ranulph was being unlawfully deprived of his liberty, as the necessary authorization for his residence was not in place.

The owner of the care home informed the Daily Mail that Lady Fiennes also failed to provide a doctor's medication list despite repeated requests, insisting that Sir Ranulph remained under the care of his private London GP. The owner alleged that Lady Fiennes supplied all his medication, with some antibiotics prescribed in her name instead of his. The owner also claimed that Lady Fiennes requested staff alter medication dosages, but they refused without a written prescription, leaving the home without clinical oversight. "No doctor saw him in the 49 days he was with us," the owner stated.

While some friends and relatives are now aware of Sir Ranulph's current location, apprehension regarding his care, access, and overall welfare persists among those closest to him.