Sir Richard Branson 'heartbroken' as he announces death of his wife, Joan Templeman

Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, describing himself as “heartbroken” at the loss of his partner of five decades.

In a statement shared on Instagram, the Virgin Group founder called her “my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world,” adding: “Love you forever, Joan x”

Branson said Templeman had been the “most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for,” paying tribute to the quiet but central role she played in the family and in his life.

Templeman, born in Scotland, had long been recognised as a steadying force behind Branson’s global ventures. The couple, who married in 1989 on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, shared two surviving children, Holly and Sam. Their first daughter, Clare Sarah, died shortly after birth in 1979.

Despite her husband’s public profile, Templeman largely stayed out of the spotlight, maintaining a private life even as the Virgin brand expanded across aviation, music, telecoms and space flight. Branson has repeatedly credited her with providing the stability and grounding that enabled him to pursue high-risk business decisions over the course of his career.

Only last month, Branson posted a photograph of himself kissing Templeman on the head, writing: “Everyone needs a Joan in their life.”

She had appeared in good health earlier in the year, having celebrated her 80th birthday this summer.

Marking the occasion, Branson thanked her for being by his side through “the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between,” adding: “These are the moments I cherish most with you.”

No cause of death has been disclosed.

It has often been cited that the couple first met in 1976 near Branson’s Virgin Records studio (“The Manor”), when  Templeman was working in a bric-a-brac/antiques shop in London’s Notting Hill. Branson is later reported to have said he made up his mind about her “within 30 seconds” of their first meeting, calling her a “down-to-earth Scottish lady” who wouldn’t be impressed by his usual antics.

Throughout their courtship, Branson described her as “unlike any other woman I had ever met” - witty, grounded, fun and kind.

Tributes have begun to appear across social media and the business world, reflecting Templeman’s reputation not only as Branson’s closest confidante but as the person he consistently described as the heart of their family and the foundation of his extraordinary public career.