Sir Richard Branson, the renowned founder of the Virgin Group, has announced the death of his beloved wife, Joan Templeman, describing himself as 'heartbroken' by the loss.
A 50-Year Partnership Comes to an End
In a poignant social media post shared on Tuesday evening, the 75-year-old entrepreneur revealed that his wife and partner of five decades had passed away. Sir Richard wrote that Joan was not only his wife but also his 'best friend' and his 'guiding light'.
He expressed the profound family loss, stating she was 'the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.' The couple, who tied the knot in 1989, are parents to two children, Holly and Sam.
A Love Story That Began in a London Shop
The story of their romance was one for the ages. In a previous article for the Virgin website celebrating Joan's 70th birthday, Sir Richard recounted how he fell in love with her 'from the first moment I saw her.'
He first laid eyes on Joan while she was working in a bric-a-brac shop on London's Westbourne Grove. The determined young Branson admitted he had to 'persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects'—including an old advertising sign—before she finally agreed to go on a date with him.
A Private Rock and a Guiding Light
Despite her husband's very public life, Sir Richard always described Joan Templeman as a 'very private person.' He credited her as the steadfast presence behind his success, saying she had 'always stood by me mentally, emotionally and spiritually' throughout their long life together.
His final public words to her were a simple yet powerful tribute: 'Love you forever, Joan x.' The announcement has prompted an outpouring of sympathy for the businessman and his family, marking the end of an iconic British love story.
