Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the 82-year-old explorer known for his polar expeditions, has been found to have been unlawfully deprived of his liberty while residing in a care home, according to a recent report by the Care Inspectorate Wales. The watchdog's review concluded that Fiennes was under continuous supervision and control at a Welsh care facility without the required legal authorisation for his deprivation of liberty, a safeguard that protects individuals unable to make their own decisions about care.

Since his last public appearance two years ago, Fiennes has reportedly been moved between multiple care homes across London, Cheshire, and Wales under false identities, with his second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, 59, playing a central role in arranging his care. Staff at one Welsh care home raised concerns when Millington-Cotes preferred private carers to manage his medication rather than registering him with a general practitioner. Additionally, reports indicate that some relatives and friends have been denied access to visit Fiennes, with his precise whereabouts not publicly disclosed.

The case has drawn significant attention from Fiennes’s family, friends, and MPs. Arabella McIntyre-Brown, the sister of Fiennes’s late first wife Ginny, expressed alarm about his safety, mental well-being, and prolonged isolation. John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor and a personal friend, described Fiennes as “vulnerable” and called for transparency regarding his care. Shadow Health and Care Secretary Damian Hinds highlighted the importance of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in protecting vulnerable individuals and criticized apparent inaction despite repeated requests for an investigation.

Fiennes’s stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, has publicly urged the OPG to initiate an inquiry and has contacted safeguarding authorities while establishing a GoFundMe campaign to challenge the legal power of attorney held by his mother. According to family sources, police have also been asked to conduct welfare checks.

There are additional reports alleging that Millington-Cotes implemented unusual medical directives, including a purported do-not-resuscitate order, and that some visitors to a London care facility were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. Concerns have been raised about the secrecy surrounding Fiennes’s condition, with some staff reportedly told that his life might be at risk from extremists, necessitating measures to disguise his identity during public outings.

Fiennes, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, married Millington-Cotes in 2005, a year after the death of his first wife. His friends and family continue to seek clarity about his health and living conditions, emphasizing the need for proper legal oversight and protection.

Attempts to reach Louise Millington-Cotes for comment have not been successful. The Office of the Public Guardian has been contacted but has not issued a public response at this time.