Concerns have been raised for Sir Ranulph, 82, who has been dubbed the world’s greatest living explorer, with friends and family saying they have no idea where he is.
Family and friends of the legendary British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes say they have not been able to contact him for months and fear he is being hidden away.
Sir Ranulph, 82, has not been seen in public for nearly two years and is said to have been admitted to several care homes under assumed names after a family rift involving his second wife Louise Millington-Cotes, 59.
The explorer’s famous friends, including Bear Grylls, Ben Fogle, Joanna Lumley and Monty Don have spoken out about the situation and even King Charles is reported to have been blocked from checking on his friend.
However, the police have said they are “satisfied that Sir Ranulph Fiennes is living in an appropriate setting” and have no safeguarding concerns.
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Actor Joseph Fiennes, Sir Ranulph’s cousin, was among those who visited him at a west London care home last year, where he was said to be living under the name Ron Westwood, The Times reports.
Six months later the Shakespeare in Love star, 56, wrote to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) – the government agency that oversees power of attorney cases in England and Wales – saying he was concerned the explorer was being cut off.
He told the Telegraph: “If that happens to Ran, I can’t bear to think how many others that has happened to and is happening to. It throws up vital questions, including questions for care homes and legal services.”
BBC gardening star Don, 71, who has known the explorer for more than 40 years, also called on the OPG to investigate Sir Ranulph’s case.
He said: “He should be enjoying the admiration and respect of the whole country after such a remarkable life and not kept hidden away from family and friends.”
TV adventurer Grylls, 52, said he has been trying to contact Sir Ranulph for a year, adding: “These reports of his isolation from his loved ones and treatment in care homes are so deeply disturbing.”
The King was reportedly blocked as he tried to check on the wellbeing of Sir Ranulph after fellow explorer Anton Bowring wrote to him last year saying their friend was in a “very poor state”.
But Sir Ranulph’s wife Louise was said to have blocked the King’s attempts to reach out and sent angry texts to Bowing, 76, when Buckingham Palace was given her details, the Telegraph said.
Sir Ranulph’s stepson, Alex Millington-Cotes told the BBC on Monday night: “He’s not an isolated type of person and so to see him isolated now is very painful.
“So I’d like to see the power of attorney be – it’s hard to say – removed from my own mother and placed with one or, really, several people who have fully his best interests in mind.”
Sir Ranulph’s former sister-in-law Arabella Pepper – younger sister of his late first wife Ginny – added: “We don’t know where he is at the moment and nobody is able to go and visit him.
“I managed to see him for an hour last year in July and a few other people have seen him briefly last year.
“The first thing I said to him, apart from the usual greetings, was that everybody was worried about him, was looking for him, was longing to see him and had been since October 24. The relief on his face was very obvious.”
Sir Ranulph – described by Guinness World Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer” – was the first person to visit both north and south poles by surface means in the early 1980s.
The former SAS soldier and author of 24 books, has also crossed Antarctica on foot and reached the summit of Everest aged 65. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
Cheshire Police responded to reports for the first time this week with detective chief superintendent Claire Jesson explaining that they are satisfied Sir Ranulph is receiving suitable care.
She said: “Police and partner agencies are aware of the concerns raised and are satisfied that Sir Ranulph Fiennes is living in an appropriate setting with suitable care and professional oversight. No immediate safeguarding concerns have been identified at this time.”
Sir Ranulph’s wife Louise has not responded to the allegations.
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