Richard Branson has paid tribute to his ‘wonderful’ wife Joan after sharing the sad news that she had sadly died just three months before their 50th anniversary
Richard and wife Joan were always very affectionate with each other in public(Image: FilmMagic)
This is the heartbreaking final picture Richard Branson shared with his beloved wife Joan days before she died.
The Virgin boss posted a snap on Instagram at an event with Joan, who he announced had sadly passed away earlier today. In the post from November 15 both are dressed up with glasses of champagne in their hands. As Richard planted a kiss – as he often did – on Joan’s head, he wrote in the caption: “Everyone needs a Joan in their life.”
Fans at the time were quick to comment underneath, with one writing: “I agree,” while another said Joan was ‘the best’. A third said: “So special,” as a fourth said: “Amen! She’s everything. Elegant. Funny. Smart. Practical. Lovely.” While a fifth added: “It’s amazing to see a couple so strongly united. Richard it takes 2 to make it special.”
READ MORE: Inside Richard Branson’s 50-year relationship with ‘love of his life’ as he issues tribute
The last photo Richard posted with his beloved wife Jean before she died(Image: Instagram )
The pair have been together since they met in 1976(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Richard announced the devastating news that his 80-year-old wife of almost half a century had died in a social media post this afternoon. Sadly, her death came just three months before the couple were due to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day they met.
Sharing a photo of a smiling Joan, he announced he was “heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away.”
He went on to say: “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 couple met in 1976, and for Richard, it was “love at first sight”. He shared: “I often make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and I fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her. Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady, and I quickly realised she wouldn’t be impressed by my usual antics.”
Joan was working in an antiques shop in Notting Hill, and for weeks, Richard said he would go to the shop to buy vintage signs from her, which ended up all over the houseboat he lived on at the time. Eventually, they fell in love and went on to have two children – Holly, 44, and 40-year-old Sam. They married on Necker Island in 1989.
Describing Joan as his “constant rock” and a “steady source of wisdom”, Richard credited Joan with some of his biggest business wins too. Together they came up with the slogan ‘Now That’s What I Call Music!’, which went on to become the biggest-selling album series in history.
Richard says he owes Necker Island to Joan, too. Revealing how he came to own the private island he now calls home, the entrepreneur said, “Two years after we had first met, I wanted to show Joan a grand gesture of affection.
“Upon hearing about a beautiful island in the British Virgin Islands up for sale, I called the people selling it to enquire. We were still in the early days of Virgin Records, and I definitely did not have the cash to buy it – but try telling that to a fool in love!
“The realtor offered me a trip to see the island. Before we knew it, Joan and I were high in the sky, looking down over our future home. It was the second time I experienced love at first sight… I wouldn’t have been able to do all it without Joan, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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