Virgin Group founder Richard Branson is sharing his profound grief following the death of his wife and partner of five decades, Joan Templeman. The 80-year-old passed away with Branson by her side as they were both recovering from separate ailments in a hospital.
A Final Chapter Together in Hospital
A day after announcing her passing, the 75-year-old billionaire posted a moving tribute on Instagram. He revealed that he and their two children, Holly and Sam, are now together, "doing our best to smile through the tears and to focus on all the good things Joan brought into our world." The post was accompanied by a series of cherished family photos spanning their years together.
Branson did not disclose a cause of death. He recounted a twist of fate that saw them reunited in a hospital in England. He was there for a shoulder injury from a bike fall in India, while she was recovering from a back injury. He was eventually moved to a room down the hall from hers.
"We laughed together about how typical it was of us to end up on the same floor, like love-struck teenagers delighted to find each other again," Branson wrote, reflecting on their serendipitous reunion.
A Radiant Smile and a Sudden Goodbye
In his emotional post, Branson recalled a recent lunch where he could see Templeman was getting stronger and remained positive about her health. "She smiled at me, that radiant smile that lit up her whole face, the same smile I fell in love with the very first moment I saw her, half a century ago," he shared.
He then described the suddenness of her passing: "Then suddenly, she was gone, quickly and painlessly. And thankfully, I was right by her side. It brings us all great comfort to know we were together." Their son, Sam, responded to the tribute on Instagram with three mending heart emojis.
Fifty Years of Love and Memories
In his initial announcement on Tuesday, Branson said he was "heartbroken" and described Templeman as his "best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world." While the family is devastated, he expressed being "far more grateful for the extraordinary gift of the life we shared."
Just days before her death, Branson had foreshadowed the coming loss with a simple, poignant Instagram post of the two of them, captioned only, "Love this photo of Joan."
The couple recently celebrated Templeman's 80th birthday with her closest friends at Kasbah Tamadot, their luxury hotel in Morocco's Atlas Mountains. "She lived so fully and joyfully, always thinking of others, always lifting everyone else up," Branson wrote. "To see her so happy in those last months is something we will treasure forever."
The couple had three children together. Their first daughter, Clare Sarah, died four days after her birth in 1979.
Branson concluded his tribute by reflecting on their lasting bond. "Life will never be the same without her," he acknowledged. "But we have fifty incredible years of memories — years filled with tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that shaped our family more than words could ever capture."
Before his marriage to Templeman, Branson was married to Kristen Tomassi from 1972 to 1979. That marriage ended in divorce and produced no children.
