Sir Ranulph Fiennes's wife lets selected friends visit the explorer in his dementia unit while his stepson is STILL barred

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, 82, who has Parkinson's disease and is living in a specialist dementia unit, has had his whereabouts shared with a select group of friends and family by his wife Louise Millington-Cotes, 59, after two years in which he was not seen. Stepson Alex Millington-Cotes, 31, remains barred from any contact and says he fears he may never see his stepfather again. Family members and friends are pressing ahead with a Court of Protection hearing to examine whether Louise is exercising her power of attorney appropriately.

Louise previously moved Sir Ranulph between care homes under aliases and required visitors to sign non-disclosure agreements before seeing him.

Alex Millington-Cotes, estranged from his mother, told reporters: 'She hasn't acted right from the beginning, and press coverage forcing her hand doesn't make it better.'

Police and the Office of the Public Guardian have both been called on by concerned relatives to investigate Sir Ranulph's welfare.