Sir Richard Branson subtly hinted at the passing of his cherished wife, Lady Joan, just days before publicly sharing the news on social media.

In a touching post on Monday, the Virgin boss shared a blast from the past photo of himself with his partner of 50 years, captioning the image: ‘Love this photo of Joan.’ 

On Tuesday afternoon, Sir Richard posted a heartfelt tribute alongside a close-up photo of Lady Joan. “Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away,” he wrote.

“She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for,” he continued.

“She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x,” he added in his touching message.

Recently unearthed, emotional footage shows the couple’s wedding on Necker Island in 1989, highlighting the depth of their bond.

Their love story began in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for Virgin Records, where Sir Richard instantly fell for her.

Footage shows Sir Richard putting a ring on Lady Joan’s finger as she stood in her wedding dress and veil during their marriage ceremony, surrounded by friends and family. 

The couple then share a long kiss as she places her veil over the top of his head, encompassing both of them. 

On Monday, Sir Richard Branson shared a photo of himself with his partner of 50 years Lady Joan, captioning the image: ‘Love this photo of Joan’

Sir Richard shared this photo of Lady Joan on his social media accounts to announce his wife’s death just over a day later 

Lady Joan, 80, who shares two children with Sir Richard, has long been credited as the billionaire’s ‘rock’ and ‘source of wisdom’. 

In a post last month, the Virgin tycoon posted a photograph, showing him kissing his wife’s head and the words: ‘Everyone needs a Joan in their life.’ 

Lady Joan was thought to be in good health when she celebrated her 80th birthday this summer, with Sir Richard paying tribute to her on his social media. 

‘Thank you for being by my side through it all – the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between. These are the moments I cherish most with you, I love you more and more each year,’ he wrote on Facebook in July. 

The couple had been looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in just a few months on February 7. 

The business magnate has previously revealed how he was taken in by the ‘beautiful, witty, down-to-earth’ woman when she visited the studio in West London.

After finding out that she worked nearby, he recalls how he set about wooing her.

Sir Richard announced the death of Joan, his beloved wife of 50 years, yesterday

In a 2015 blog celebrating her 70th birthday, Sir Richard said: ‘I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her, while she worked in a bric-a-brac shop in Westbourne Grove, in London.

‘A blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty who didn’t suffer fools, Joan was unlike any other women I had ever met.

‘To win her heart, I had to persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects before we started courting…’

He signed off the blog: ‘As the saying goes, behind every man there’s a great woman.

‘Joan you are the greatest woman of all. Happy birthday and thank you for choosing to come on this adventure with me.’