Ranulph Fiennes's wife 'stopped the King trying to contact national treasure explorer'

After becoming aware of the worsening health and isolation of his long-time friend, the King became "most concerned", one of his members of staff said at the time.

A senior assistant to the monarch was handed a phone number for Sir Ranulph's wife and legal guardian Louise Millington-Cotes after asking a friend how to get in touch with the explorer.

However, Ms Millington-Cotes told the friend to "back off" after becoming furious that her details were given out and threatened to involve lawyers and the police, The Telegraph revealed.

The friend who had provided the number is said to have thought the 82-year-old would have been "thrilled" to have heard from the King, but the wife is believed to claimed it was causing her husband "immense distress".

She subsequently refused to allow the monarch to reach out before allegedly telling friends that the King despised her husband.

Ms Millington-Cotes is also said to have claimed that the Queen Camilla ordered helicopters to fly over their home to get on their nerves.

After becoming aware of the worsening health and isolation of his long-time friend, the King became 'most concerned'

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The national treasure's wife was handed lasting power of attorney over him in November 2024.

Friends and family were initially allowed to see him if they signed non-disclosure agreements - but they have been blocked from even knowing his whereabouts since January, the Telegraph reports.

Anton Bowring, who participated in the Transglobe Expedition with Sir Ranulph between 1979 and 1982, contacted the King’s private secretary Sir Clive Alderton in February 2025 to tell him the 82-year-old was “in a very poor state”.

In a letter, Mr Bowring said: “Very little information about him is forthcoming, and his many friends are concerned about him.

"More than that I cannot say, but I just thought that His Majesty would like to know.”

Just over a week later, Commander William Thornton, the King's former equerry, reached out to Mr Bowring.

Mr Bowring told The Telegraph: “He said the King was most concerned and would really like to write to Ran, Louise and their daughter Elizabeth to express his concern and see if there was anything he could do to help.

"He asked how he could communicate that to Ran, and asked if I had Louise’s phone number. He said ‘I can give her a ring and if it’s a no we can let the matter drop."

The explorer was promptly contacted by Ms Millington-Cotes, who told him: “I’m going to be changing my phone number because of you!!! There is nothing further that we need you to help with. Thank you.”

He replied saying he was "deeply saddened" by her response, explaining that "the Palace will be completely discreet and not trouble you again if you don’t want them to".

Sir Ranulph's step-son has launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of a legal challenge against her guardianship

GOFUNDME

However, Sir Ranulph's wife replied: “I’m contacting a solicitor and the police if you continue this! That was utterly inappropriate! You haven’t listened to anything I’ve explained to you about Ran’s feelings about his condition. You are causing him immense distress! Nobody else is??? Back off!!!”

Mr Bowring told her that he did not think "there’s anything that a solicitor or the police could do about a close friend caring for his chum," before adding: "Your anger is nothing compared to my sadness".

The 82-year-old's wife did not reply to the explorer's message.

Sir Ranulph's step-son, Alex Millington-Cotes, has launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of a legal challenge against her guardianship.

More than £18,463 has been raised by 646 supporters, with the money also being used to track down the national treasure.