Sir Richard Branson has shared heartfelt details about the final moments with his wife Joan Templeman, who died at 80 years old.
The Virgin founder disclosed on Instagram that she died suddenly whilst hospitalised, departing peacefully without pain.
The 75-year-old entrepreneur revealed he was at her bedside when she passed.
“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,” he wrote in the emotional post.
Richard Branson shared the news of his wife Joan’s death on Tuesday evening
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INSTAGRAMThe businessman is currently grieving alongside their children Holly, 44, and Sam, 40.
He described attempting to find solace through tears whilst remembering the positive impact Joan had on their lives.
Both Sir Richard and Joan found themselves in the same English hospital by coincidence.
The entrepreneur had sustained a shoulder injury after falling from his bicycle in India, whilst Joan was being treated for back problems.
In what he described as a twist of fate, the couple ended up in adjacent rooms along the same hospital corridor.
“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,” Sir Richard shared.
On Joan’s final day, the pair enjoyed what he called a “lovely lunch” together.
Following their meal, she appeared to be in good spirits, making her sudden passing all the more unexpected for the family.
Richard Branson shared a heartbreaking update about his wife Joan’s death
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The business magnate reflected on what he called “an incredible final year” with Joan, highlighting significant milestones the family celebrated together.
These included Joan’s 80th birthday celebration and their son Sam reaching his 40th year, alongside numerous other occasions.
“She lived so fully and joyfully, always thinking of others, always lifting everyone else up.
“To see her so happy in those last months is something we will treasure forever,” Sir Richard wrote.
The Virgin founder acknowledged that whilst the family feels devastated by their loss, they remain “far more grateful for the extraordinary gift of the life we shared”.
He emphasised how Joan’s happiness during her final months provided lasting comfort to those she left behind.
He went on to describe his wife as the central figure around whom their family revolved, calling her “my everything, the shining star around which our family’s universe has always orbited.”
He expressed confidence that her influence would endure, stating that her light had merely “taken on a new shape” and would continue guiding them.
Joan Templeman and Richard Branson in 2018
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GETTY
The entrepreneur reflected on their half-century together, acknowledging that whilst life would never feel complete without her presence, they possessed five decades of precious memories.
“It was a relationship that worked. We just had lots of laughs. We were very lucky,” he wrote.
In his initial announcement on Tuesday, Sir Richard had described Joan as his closest companion, foundation, and beacon, declaring his eternal love for the woman who had been his partner for 50 years.