Ranulph Fiennes's stepson has called for the explorer's wife to be stripped of her power over him as the 82-year-old's whereabouts remain unknown to his family and friends.

It was dramatically revealed earlier this week that the retired explorer and author has been staying in various care facilities under a false name, on the instructions of his wife Louise Millington-Cotes.

His whereabouts first became a mystery when he failed to appear in person at a gala in his honour in 2024.

While in a care home in rural Wales, Louise Millington-Cotes has enforced draconian measures that mean Sir Ranulph must be kept in his room, must not socialise with anyone and must not spend time in communal spaces.

Most importantly, on the occasions he needed to leave his quarters – when being taken for a walk, for example – he was required to wear sunglasses, hat and gloves in case he was recognised.

And documents, seen by the Daily Mail, showed the worried care home owner raised concerns about unorthodox medication arrangements put in place by Lady Fiennes and the validity of a 'Do Not Resuscitate' document that she had provided.  

The stunning revelations have led to outrage from Sir Ranulph's family who are demanding an immediate investigation into his living arrangements.

They have also accused the Office of the Public Guardian of ignoring repeated requests to look into the explorer's welfare.  

Now, Sir Ranulph's stepson Alexander Millington-Cotes has launched a crowdfunding appeal to start putting together a legal case against his mother in order to remove the power of attorney.

Speaking to The Times, the 31-year-old said his 'personal ambition would be to just see that power taken away from my mother' and transferred to someone that would ensure his stepfather's wishes are respected.

'I want to be able to give him the opportunity to go out for coffee, to see someone who he might want to see with complete freedom, anyone at all,' he added. 

Arabella McIntyre-Brown, the sister of Sir Ranulph's late first wife, Ginny, told The Daily Telegraph that reports about the physical wellbeing of Sir Ranulph, who has Parkinson's, were 'very worrying'.

She said: 'We – Ran's family and close friends – have been very concerned for his safety and mental wellbeing [and the fact he has] been isolated for so long.

'Reports of his physical wellbeing are also very worrying. He's a tough fellow, but he's only human. The sooner the OPG moves, the better.'  

Sir Ranulph was last seen in public at a gala evening organised in his honour by the Royal Geographical Society in October 2024, when he appeared in a brief, pre-recorded video apologising for not being 'well enough' to attend in person.

Some of his closest friends have been trying to contact him, mostly without success, ever since and have grown increasingly concerned about him and his whereabouts.

The latest revelations will surely only add to their growing fears for his safety.

The 'disappearance' of Sir Ranulph, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, was the subject of a Daily Mail investigation last Saturday headlined: 'Where on earth is Ranulph Fiennes?'

The truth is that during one year alone he was shunted between five different facilities – four care homes and a hotel – all over the country.

He arrived at the Welsh establishment on January 21 and spent 49 days there.

Sir Ranulph's wife Louise Millington-Cotes, who is 23 years his junior, has lasting power of attorney over his property and financial affairs as well as his health and welfare, granted to her at around the time of the National Geographic tribute.

Nonetheless, the Care Inspectorate of Wales concluded that her husband – they were married in 2005 and have a daughter Elizabeth, Sir Ranulph's only child – was being unlawfully 'deprived of his liberty' because Lady Fiennes did not have the authorisation which covered his residence. 

Lady Fiennes also failed to provide any medication list from a doctor or prescriber despite repeated requests, the owner told the Daily Mail, and insisted that Sir Ranulph stayed under his private GP in London which meant he could not be registered locally like their other residents.

She supplied all of his medication and some of the antibiotics he was given were in her name, not his.

She also asked a manager to vary some of his doses of medication but staff refused to do so without a written prescription.

‘That left the home with no clinical oversight of him at all,’ the owner said. ‘No doctor saw him in the 49 days he was with us.’

And now most alarming to all Sir Ranulph's close friends, his whereabouts are, once again, unknown.

READ MORE: 'I wouldn't treat an animal like that': The isolated life of frail Sir Ranulph Fiennes hidden in a care home in rural Wales... as its owner reveals how explorer is 'at the mercy of his controlling wife'