Branson has often described their relationship as love at first sight. He first met Joan in West London in the 1970s, where she worked in a small bric-a-brac shop, according to ITV.
He once recalled hovering around the store buying “countless objects” just for the chance to see her again.
They eventually married in 1989 on Necker Island, the Caribbean escape Branson famously bought as a romantic gesture when they were only a couple of years into dating.
“We were still in the early days of Virgin Records and I definitely did not have the cash to buy it — but try telling that to a fool in love!” he admitted.
The couple went on to have three children: Holly, Sam, and Clare Sarah, who tragically passed away just four days after being born prematurely.
A life lived quietly, but deeply
Despite spending decades beside one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs, Joan long avoided public attention. Branson once explained:
”From the beginning Joan was a very private person, and the over four decades we have been together she has remained so.”
She rarely gave interviews, in fact, according to Branson, she didn’t participate in one until 2016 for a documentary about his ballooning adventures.
Her final chapter
Lady Joan was believed to be in good health when she celebrated her 80th birthday this summer. Branson shared a loving tribute at the time, reflecting on their decades together:
”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 IContinue reading…
