Sir Richard Branson, the renowned British entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder, has announced the devastating loss of his wife, Joan Templeman, who passed away at the age of 80.
The billionaire shared his grief through an emotional statement, describing his partner of five decades as his 'world' and the 'guiding light' of their family.
A Heartbreaking Public Tribute
Breaking the news to the world via social media on Tuesday, a heartbroken Branson wrote: 'Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away. She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x.'
The family has chosen to keep details of her illness private, maintaining the discretion that characterised Joan's approach to life in the public eye. Her final days were spent away from the spotlight she had consistently avoided throughout their marriage.
A Love Story For The Ages
The couple's remarkable romance began in 1976 with a chance meeting in a London antique shop on Westbourne Grove. Joan, described as a 'down-to-earth Scottish beauty' from Glasgow, was working there when the dishevelled music mogul first walked in.
While Branson later confessed to falling for her 'almost from the moment I saw her,' Joan was initially unimpressed. In a blog post for her 70th birthday, Branson recalled: 'She was unlike any other woman I had ever met. She was beautiful. She was bright. She was witty. She was down to earth. She was fun. And she had eyes made of magic.'
To win her over, Branson employed the same persistence that would later define his business career, frequently visiting the shop to buy 'countless objects' he didn't need simply for the opportunity to speak with her.
Building A Life And Family Together
The couple married in 1989 on Necker Island, their private Caribbean sanctuary that would become the family home. Their wedding took place eleven years after they first met, with their two children, Holly and Sam, present as testament to their already established life together.
Their journey included profound tragedy when they lost their first child, Clare Sarah, who died just four days after being born prematurely in 1979.
They went on to raise Holly, now 44, and Sam, 40, who have since made them grandparents to five grandchildren: Etta, Artie, Lola, Eva-Deia, and Bluey.
While Richard Branson built his very public legacy - launching airlines, crossing oceans in hot air balloons, and attempting space travel - Joan remained the private, grounding force behind the scenes. Friends and family often noted her no-nonsense Scottish wit and her ability to puncture his ego when necessary.
Just a week before her death, Branson had shared a photo of himself kissing her head, captioning it with the timeless sentiment: 'Behind every man there's a great woman.'
Publicly, Joan was believed to be in good health as recently as July, when she celebrated her 80th birthday. At the time, Branson had paid tribute to her constant presence 'through the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between.'
The news prompted an outpouring of condolences from friends and followers, including TV host Andrea Minski who recalled: 'Every year at Necker she shared the best mom advice with me, and I'll never forget our conversations over champagne.'
Businesswoman Sara Blakely added: 'Oh Richard... Heartbroken. Sending so much love to you and your family. She is the best. The best. So glad you had each other for so long.'
Joan Templeman's passing marks the end of a five-decade love story that began in a London shop and grew to encompass a global business empire, family tragedies and triumphs, and a partnership that remained strong through half a century of extraordinary life experiences.
