Sir Ranulph Fiennes was unlawfully deprived of his liberty after his wife placed him in multiple care homes under a false name. The British explorer and writer vanished from public view two years prior, according to British media reports.
The Disappearance at the Royal Geographical Society
The 82-year-old last drew public attention in October 2024. He failed to appear at a Royal Geographical Society gala celebrating his life and achievements, where a short pre-recorded video was shown instead. He has not been seen publicly since that event.
Pseudonyms and Secret Relocations
According to reports, Fiennes was placed in various social care facilities under a pseudonym by order of his wife, Louise Millington-Coates. She also imposed strict conditions on how care should be administered.
Last year, the explorer spent time at a London care facility. His wife reportedly required visitors to sign confidentiality agreements before they could see him.
He was subsequently relocated to social care facilities in Wales and Cheshire. His exact whereabouts remained known only to his wife and his daughter, Elizabeth.
Alarms Raised Over Unusual Medical Directives
The owner of the care home in Wales where Fiennes resided alerted authorities and police regarding concerns over his care. The owner notified the Office of the Public Guardian about unusual medical instructions.
These included a “do not resuscitate” document provided by Millington-Coates whose validity could not be confirmed.
Camouflage and Guarded Walks
At the facility, Fiennes was registered under an alias. His wife insisted he wear a hat, sunglasses, and gloves during walks with his private carer to avoid recognition.
Rather than registering with a general practitioner, a private carer was hired to manage his medications.
The Ruling on Unlawful Detention
The care home owner warned Millington-Coates that a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorization was legally required to restrict his freedom, but no such order was secured.
In January, the Welsh social care oversight body determined that Fiennes had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty. The conclusion stated that he was under continuous supervision and control, could not freely leave the facility, and lacked the capacity to consent to his care, treatment, and placement.
Keep reading