Richard Branson announced the death of his wife Joan Templeman on Tuesday, Nov. 25<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cShe was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world,” Branson wrote on social media<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The couple wed on Necker Island in the Caribbean in 1989<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sir Richard Branson<\/a> is mourning the loss of his beloved partner of 50 years.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Branson announced on social media that his wife Joan Templeman<\/a> had died at age 80.<\/p>\n \u201cHeartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away,\u201d Branson wrote on Instagram. \u201cShe was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cShe was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.\u201d<\/p>\n Two days prior, the businessman posted a throwback photo of the couple with the caption, \u201cLove this photo of Joan.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple wed in 1989 and went on to welcome three children together: Holly<\/a>, 44, Sam<\/a>, 30 and Clare Sarah, who died at 4 days old after being born three months premature.<\/p>\n Julian Parker\/UK Press\/Getty<\/p>\n Richard Branson and Joan Templeman attend the Premiere of ‘Wall Street’ on April 27, 1988.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Branson wrote in a February 2020 blog post<\/a> on Virgin.com,<\/a> reflecting on the first time they met. \u201cJoan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realised she wouldn\u2019t be impressed by my usual antics.\u201d<\/p>\n Branson explained he met his future wife while she was working at an antique shop in London. Meanwhile Branson was in the early days of building his empire.<\/p>\n Richard Branson Instagram<\/p>\n Richard Branson and Joan Templeman.<\/p>\n In fact, Branson credits the purchase of Necker Island<\/a>, his private retreat in the Caribbean, to Templeman.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo years after we had first met, I wanted to show Joan a grand gesture of affection,\u201d he wrote. \u201cBefore 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Eleven years after purchasing the island, the couple wed there. Following in their parents\u2019 footsteps, their children Holly and Sam also married there, in December 2011 and March 2013, respectively.<\/p>\n Jon Furniss\/WireImage<\/p>\n Richard Branson, Sam Branson, Joan Templeman and Holly Branson.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for<\/strong> PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n Templeman largely stayed out of the limelight throughout her life.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the beginning, Joan was a very private person, and the over four decades we have been together she has remained so,\u201d he wrote in a 2015 blog post<\/a>. \u201cShe has always been keen to avoid the public eye.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Julian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/80b0a2af33a01455a202d8b4dc1c742d.jpeg\"\/)
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