Richard Branson is mourning the woman who stood by him for 50 years

Richard Branson has spent decades in the public eye, building an empire that made him one of the world’s most recognisable entrepreneurs.

The Virgin Group founder is mourning the loss of his wife, Joan Templeman, who has died at the age of 80. The couple shared a partnership that lasted half a century, a rare constant in a life otherwise defined by movement, risk and reinvention.

They met in the 1970s, long before Branson became a global business icon. Joan was working at an antique shop when their paths first crossed, and they went on to marry in 1989. While Branson’s name came to dominate headlines, Joan chose a life away from the spotlight, remaining fiercely private even as her husband’s profile continued to grow.

Together, they had three children: Holly, Sam, and a daughter who tragically died shortly after birth. Branson has often spoken about the heartbreak of that loss and the strength it took to carry on. Those closest to the family have long credited Joan as the emotional anchor who helped hold everything together, particularly in moments of deep personal grief.

Despite the opulence of Necker Island weddings and a life surrounded by innovation, celebrity and power, Joan rarely sought attention. She preferred to live on her own terms, away from the press and public gaze, quietly supporting Branson through the highs and lows of his many ventures. It is a contrast that defined their partnership: one public, one private, bound by loyalty and steadiness.

In his tribute, Branson described her as his best friend, his rock, his guiding light and his world.

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