King Charles attempted to contact Sir Ranulph Fiennes after learning about the explorer’s declining health but was blocked by Fiennes's wife, Louise Millington–Cotes. Millington–Cotes reportedly became angry when her phone number was given to someone who tried to help locate Fiennes and threatened legal action against the intermediary. The article highlights concerns over Fiennes being kept in care homes under a false name since 2024, with his whereabouts currently unknown despite efforts by friends and the royal family to intervene.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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The King was allegedly blocked from contacting Sir Ranulph Fiennes by the explorer's wife – after she became angry her phone number had been passed on without permission.
Sir Ranulph, 82, who has Parkinson's and has not been seen publicly for over two years, is said to have been given a false name by his second wife and moved between a series of care homes.
Friends of the adventurer, including Bear Grylls, have launched a desperate bid to locate him after his family's pleas for help were 'ignored'.
uncertain
pleas → see → help
It has now emerged that King Charles also attempted to check on Sir Ranulph's wellbeing – but his 'controlling' wife and legal guardian, Louise Millington–Cotes, told the Palace to 'back off'.
The King's equerry is believed to have contacted an individual who had written a letter asking how the King could get in touch with Sir Ranulph and was given a phone number for Ms Millington–Cotes.
uncertain
King → emerge → Cotes
The monarch was said to have been 'most concerned' after being alerted to his friend Sir Ranulph's declining health and isolation, one of his staff said.
asserted
one → say → staff
The intermediary was said to have thought Sir Ranulph would be 'thrilled' to know the King cared so much about him.
asserted
King → say → him
It has emerged King Charles attempted to check on Sir Ranulph's wellbeing – but his 'controlling' wife and legal guardian told the Palace to 'back off'
asserted
wife → emerge → Palace
But Millington–Cotes was allegedly angry the Palace had been given her details and threatened the intermediary with a solicitor and the police, The Telegraph reported.
uncertain
Telegraph → give → solicitor
She reportedly told the intermediary to 'back off' – claiming they had caused her husband 'immense distress'.
uncertain
they → tell → distress
Often described as the world's greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph's achievements include running seven marathons in seven days across seven continents, and climbing Everest aged 65, four years after a heart attack.
asserted
achievements → describe → attack
But since 2024 he has been kept in a succession of care homes, reportedly under a false name, with the Care Inspectorate concluding he has been unlawfully deprived of his liberty.
uncertain
he → keep → liberty
The explorer married Ms Millington–Cotes, who is 23 years his junior, in 2005, a little over a year after the death of his first wife.
According to Sir Ranulph's stepson, who is estranged from his mother, she became increasingly 'dominating'.
uncertain
she → marry → mother
Ms Millington–Cotes is said to have told friends the King hated her husband and Queen Camilla had helicopters fly over their property to annoy them.
asserted
helicopters → say → them
Initially friends were allowed to see Sir Ranulph if they signed non–disclosure agreements, but since the start of this year the explorer's whereabouts have become unknown.
asserted
whereabouts → allow → year
Sir Ranulph pictured with TV adventurer Ben Fogle, who has called on police to investigate the 'very troubling' way his friend is being kept 'isolated'
asserted
friend → picture → way
Anton Bowring, who took part in the Transglobe Expedition, of which the King was patron, with Sir Ranulph between 1979 and 1982 previously wrote to the King's private secretary to inform His Majesty his friend was 'in a very poor state'.
Mr Bowring was then contacted by the King's then equerry who reported the monarch was 'most concerned' and had expressed 'a desire to help'.
asserted
monarch → take → desire
But Mr Bowring allegedly received a text from Ms Millington–Cotes an hour later saying, 'I'm going to be changing my phone number because of you!!!,' the Telegraph reported.
uncertain
Telegraph → receive → you
Alexander Millington–Cotes, Sir Ranulph's stepson, last week told of having 'no luck' in his efforts to persuade two police forces to investigate the disappearance of the explorer.
asserted
Cotes → tell → explorer
It comes as adventurers Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle are among those to have backed calls for action.
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adventurers → come → action
Mounting support for the family has seen donations for a crowdfunded legal campaign launched by Mr Millington–Cotes top £15,000.
asserted
donations → mount → 15,000
Friends and a business associate told The Mail on Sunday Sir Ranulph spoke of 'only ever being allowed 24 hours at a time away from' Ms Millington–Cotes – before she was reportedly granted lasting power of attorney over him in 2024.
uncertain
she → tell → 2024
Sir Robin Knox–Johnston, the first person to sail single–handed and non–stop around the world, said: 'The recent news that he is being shuffled from home to home and not allowed to see his friends is the deprivation of a basic human right.'
asserted
he → sail → right
Other celebrity friends include Gardeners' World host Monty Don, who said Sir Ranulph 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'.
asserted
Ranulph → include → family
Meanwhile veteran BBC journalist John Simpson said: 'He's the world's bravest man, and he's vulnerable.
asserted
he → say → ?
We must know what's happening to him.'
asserted
what → know → him
And shadow health and care secretary Damian Hinds has called for 'any potential failings' at the care watchdog the Office of the Public Guardian to be 'looked into'.
asserted
Hinds → call → Guardian
Ms Millington-Cotes has not commented publicly since the claims emerged.
uncertain
claims → comment → ?
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
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Palace → contact → comment
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