Sir Ranulph Fiennes Drew Up Secret Will on Everest Trek, Friend Claims

Update 1 · 3rd October 2026

Sir Ranulph Fiennes Drew Up Secret Will on Everest Trek, Friend Claims

Veteran explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes drew up a secret will in his tent at Mount Everest base camp after a major crisis in his marriage, according to claims by a long-time friend. Michael Kobold, a German watch entrepreneur and friend of 30 years, revealed that Fiennes wrote the handwritten document in May 2008, the night before an unsuccessful bid to reach the mountain's 29,000ft summit.

Fiennes gave the sealed will to Kobold with instructions to open it only in the event of his death. According to Kobold, Fiennes had decided to divorce his second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, two months earlier before leaving the UK for Nepal, even requesting help to locate a law firm and public relations team.

Dailymail reportedly quoted Michael Kobold (Friend of Sir Ranulph Fiennes) as saying: “I was there when he wrote it longhand. I was there when he signed it. In Ran's mind, this was a very bleak time in his life. Probably the darkest time, up until then, because he felt trapped.”.

Speculation over whereabouts and care

The revelations come amid intense speculation concerning the whereabouts of the 82-year-old explorer, who was last seen publicly two years ago. Fiennes, who has Parkinson's disease, was reportedly moved through a succession of care homes in London, Wales, and Cheshire by Millington-Cotes while his identity was concealed under an alias.

In one London home, visitors were reportedly required to sign non-disclosure agreements, while at a facility in Wales, Fiennes was registered as Robert Millington and allegedly instructed not to socialise with residents. Following calls from friends for investigations by the police and the Office of the Public Guardian, Fiennes is now believed to be residing at his isolated farm in Shropshire.

Dailymail reportedly quoted Michael Kobold (Friend of Sir Ranulph Fiennes) as saying: “Louise subjected Ran to a ceaseless barrage of attacks, always humiliating him in front of me and other people. It was heartbreaking”.

• Sir Ranulph Fiennes sealed a handwritten will in 2008 at Everest base camp following personal distress.
• Friends raised public concerns after Fiennes was reportedly placed in care homes under an alias and restricted from socialising.
• The 82-year-old explorer is currently believed to be back at his Shropshire property.