Sir Richard Branson has informed the public of a devastating loss on his family. The Virgin Atlantic Airways tycoon, 75, posted the news of his wife Joan Templeman's death at age 80 on Instagram. He wrote, "Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away. She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x"
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Per People, "The couple wed in 1989 and went on to welcome three children...Holly, 44, Sam, 30 and Clare Sarah, who died at 4 days old after being born three months premature."
Branson Says It Was Love at First Sight
According to the outlet via a Virgin.com blog post from February 2020, Branson knew that Templeman was "the one" for him almost right away. "I 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. Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realised she wouldn't be impressed by my usual antics."
The pair met when she was employed by a London antique store. At the time, Branson was "building his empire," according to the outlet. Theirs became a union that would stand the test of time very well.
He added, "Two years after we had first met, I wanted to show Joan a grand gesture of affection. Before 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."
Branson was referring to his purchase of Necker Island in the Caribbean. In 1989, he and Templeman tied the knot in that romantic, lush setting. Their children also chose to get married there.
Unlike Branson, She Remained Largely Out of View
Templeman was seemingly as reticent as Branson was brash, flamboyant, and outgoing. Per People, in a blog post a decade ago, he wrote, "From the beginning, Joan was a very private person, and the over four decades we have been together she has remained so. She has always been keen to avoid the public eye."
