Sir Ranulph Fiennes was reportedly 'unlawfully deprived of his liberty' after his wife placed him in a series of care homes following his disappearance from public life two years ago. The retired explorer and author, whose whereabouts became unclear when he did not attend a gala in his honor in October 2024, has been residing in various care facilities under a false name, as directed by his wife, Louise Millington-Cotes. She also imposed strict conditions on his care.
Concerns regarding Sir Ranulph's welfare were raised by the owner of one care home in Wales, who alerted authorities and the police. The owner contacted the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) about unusual medical provisions enforced by Millington-Cotes, including questions about the validity of a 'do not resuscitate' document she provided.
In January 2026, a care watchdog determined that Sir Ranulph was unlawfully deprived of his liberty because his wife did not follow the necessary legal protocols. This revelation comes amid ongoing disputes between Millington-Cotes and Sir Ranulph's family and friends regarding his care, with some considering legal action to challenge her guardianship.
Friends have expressed worries for his safety, stating that Millington-Cotes has restricted their access to him. Before his disappearance, Sir Ranulph had discussed the difficulties of living with Parkinson's disease. He married Millington-Cotes after the death of his first wife, Virginia 'Ginny' Fiennes, in 2004.
Millington-Cotes, 59, is 23 years younger than Sir Ranulph, who is now 82. They have a daughter, Elizabeth, who is currently 20 years old. Friends of Sir Ranulph, many of whom were not invited to the wedding, have reported feeling excluded since the marriage.
Sir Ranulph has not been seen publicly since the gala in October 2024, where he appeared in a pre-recorded video. Reports indicate he spent time in a London care home last year, where visitors were required to sign non-disclosure agreements to see him. He has since been moved to care facilities in Wales and Cheshire, with his exact location known only to Millington-Cotes and their daughter.
At the Welsh care home, Millington-Cotes employed a private carer to manage his medication without registering him with a general practitioner. Despite being warned by the care home owner about the need for a deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) order, she did not take action to obtain one. The Care Inspectorate of Wales later concluded that Sir Ranulph was under continuous supervision and control, unable to leave or consent to care.
The care home owner informed Millington-Cotes of the serious nature of the situation, but she opposed the application for a DoLS order. When Sir Ranulph was removed from the facility, the order had still not been acquired. He had been registered under a false name, and measures were taken to disguise him during outings.
The care facility owner noted that they had not contacted the OPG for a resident in over eight years. Efforts to reach Millington-Cotes for comment were unsuccessful.