Stepson Accuses Ranulph Fiennes' Wife of Controlling Influence, Seeks Legal Action Alex Millington-Cotes accuses his stepfather Sir Ranulph Fiennes' wife of controlling influence and seeks legal action to restore the explorer's free will. Alex Millington-Cotes, the stepson of the renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, has accused the explorer's second wife, Lady Louise Fiennes, of exerting a controlling influence over him for more than two decades. In an exclusive interview, Millington-Cotes stated he is determined to find his 82-year-old stepfather, who has Parkinson's disease and has not been seen publicly for over two years, to restore his free will. The accusations come amid reports that Sir Ranulph was given a false name by his wife and moved between care homes, prompting calls for an investigation. Allegations of Control and IsolationMillington-Cotes believes his mother, Louise, dominated the relationship from the very start of their marriage, barely a year after Sir Ranulph's first wife died. He described his mother's behaviour as controlling and said his own relationship with her has been difficult for as long as he can remember, with estrangement since 2018 when she allegedly kicked him out and blocked contact. Other friends and a business associate independently corroborated similar accounts, with one reporting that Sir Ranulph spoke of only ever being allowed 24 hours at a time away from his wife.In 2015, a business associate met Sir Ranulph at his old home in Exmoor to discuss a project involving personal photographs. The associate, who asked not to be named, recalled that Sir Ranulph was enthusiastic but obsessed with leaving on time for the long drive back to Cheshire, saying his wife only allowed him 24 hours away. The associate described the meeting as bizarre, noting that Sir Ranulph was insistent on departing despite hundreds of photos still to assess.Legal Action and Investigation CallsEarlier this year, the Care Inspectorate reportedly concluded that Sir Ranulph had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty. This weekend, family and friends called for an investigation into his case. Shadow Health and Care Secretary Damian Hinds urged that any potential failings at the care watchdog, the Office of the Public Guardian, be looked into. Millington-Cotes has launched a GoFundMe page to finance legal action, aiming to restore his stepfather's free will. The crowdfunding page includes a photograph of him standing with Sir Ranulph in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in June 2018, their last trip away together. They last saw each other in late 2024 and last spoke on the phone 18 months ago.Sir Ranulph Fiennes: A Life of ExplorationSir Ranulph Fiennes, often described as the world's greatest living explorer, has led an extraordinary life. The former soldier and SAS demolitions expert became the first man to reach both North and South Poles on foot and was the first to cross Antarctica on foot. He once ran seven marathons in seven days across seven continents. Despite a double heart bypass in 2003 and a heart attack two years later, he climbed Everest in 2009 at age 65. In 2005, when Millington-Cotes was ten, his mother, then 38, married Sir Ranulph, who is 23 years her senior. They initially lived at Greenlands, a hill farm near Exford, which was sold in 2007. The couple later moved to Shropshire, where Lady Louise bred horses, but Sir Ranulph retained access rights to his old home.