Sir Richard Branson has shared a heartfelt tribute following the passing of his cherished wife, Lady Joan. The Virgin Group founder revealed that Lady Joan passed away “quickly and painlessly,” leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories.

The 75-year-old entrepreneur announced yesterday that his wife of five decades had died at the age of 80. In his tribute, Sir Richard mentioned that during a recent hospital stay in England, where he was being treated for a shoulder injury, Lady Joan was also admitted for a back injury.

While Sir Richard did not specify the exact nature of his shoulder injury, it is known that he previously sustained a similar injury in 2016. Despite these challenges, the couple shared a poignant final meal together before Lady Joan’s peaceful passing by his side.

Accompanying his message were touching photographs of their life together, illustrating a profound partnership. Sir Richard expressed, “Life will never be the same without her. But we hold onto fifty extraordinary years of memories—years filled with both tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that has profoundly shaped our family beyond what words can convey.”

He said the couple had lunch together, before Lady Joan died ‘quickly and painlessly’ by his side. 

Sharing a series of sweet photographs of the couple over the years, Sir Richard penned: ‘Life will never be the same without her. 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.

‘As many already know, I’d come off my bike in India and hurt my shoulder. Joan was recovering from her own back injury in hospital in England. In the way life sometimes surprises you, I found myself moved to a room just down the corridor from her. 

‘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. 

‘We had a lovely lunch that day. She was in positive spirits and getting stronger. 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. 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.’ 

Sir Richard Branson has paid tribute to his wife Lady Joan, who passed away aged 80 

Sir Richard kisses his wife Lady Joan in a photo he shared to pay tribute to her

Yesterday, Sir Richard revealed his beloved wife had passed away 

Sir Richard, who said he is now with the couple’s two children Holly and Sam, added: ‘What an incredible final year we all had together. Her beautiful 80th birthday celebration at Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, surrounded by her closest friends; Sam’s 40th celebrations onboard Virgin Voyages; countless moments where she was beaming with happiness. 

‘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.’ 

Signing off the tribute, Sir Richard called Lady Joan his ‘shining star’, adding: ‘We are devastated she is gone. But I am far more grateful for the extraordinary gift of the life we shared – with our remarkable kids, Sam and Holly, and our wonderful grandkids, who adored her (and her sweets!) just as deeply as I did. 

‘Joan was my everything, the shining star around which our family’s universe has always orbited. That light is not gone; it’s just taken on a new shape. It will guide us forward. And we will carry her with us, always.’ 

Yesterday, Sir Richard uploaded a close-up of his wife, accompanied by a moving tribute which read: ‘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.’ 

It comes as an emotional video of the pair getting married on Necker Island in 1989 has come to light, showing the business magnate putting a ring on Lady Joan’s finger. They met in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for Virgin Records, where Sir Richard said he ‘fell in love’ at first sight. 

Footage shows the couple sharing a long kiss on their wedding day as Lady Joan places her veil over her husband’s head, encompassing both of them. 

In another post on November 15, the Virgin tycoon posted a photo showing him kissing his wife’s head alongside the words: ‘Everyone needs a Joan in their life.’ 

And on November 12, he wrote a paragraph including words for his wife alongside an old picture of them. ‘I credit a good deal of my success – not to mention my marriage – to being a good listener,’ he wrote. 

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. 

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

In a post earlier this month, the Virgin tycoon posted a photograph, showing him kissing his wife’s head. He captioned it: ‘Everyone needs a Joan in their life’ 

The pair got married on Necker Island in 1989  

Sir Richard and Lady Joan share a kiss on their wedding day in Necker Island 

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

The couple pictured with their daughter Holly. The pair were wed in 1989 when their two children, Holly and Sam, were eight and four

Sir Richard pictured with Lady Joan and their daughter Holly in 2003

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

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

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.

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.’