Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his beloved wife of 50 years, Lady Joan Branson.

Announcing her death on social media, the founder of Virgin, 75, 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’

Lady Joan has long been credited as the billionaire’s ‘rock’ and ‘source of wisdom.’

Branson wrote on the Virgin blog that he ‘fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her’.

The couple met in 1976 at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for Virgin Records, where Branson said he ‘fell in love’ with her at first sight.

They later married in 1989 and we

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