Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, at the age of 80. The Virgin Group founder expressed his heartbreak in a heartfelt tribute shared on social media. The couple, who married in 1989 on Necker Island, shared two children, Holly, 44, and Sam, 40, along with five grandchildren. In his emotional post, Sir Richard, 75, described Joan as his "best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world." He added, "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. Love you forever, Joan x." Sir Richard reminisced about the moment he first met Joan, recalling it in a 2020 article. He stated, "44 years ago today, I met my future wife at The Manor, the live-in recording studio we built for Virgin Records. 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." He described Joan as a "down-to-earth Scottish lady" who was not easily impressed by his usual antics. Tributes have poured in for Joan, with TV host Andrea Minski expressing her condolences. She said, "I'm so sorry my friend... I’m sending you a hug straight to your soul. I really loved your wife. Every year at Necker she shared the best mum advice with me, and I’ll never forget our conversations over champagne. Thinking of you and your family and sending you all my love and strength." Joan was known to be a very private person who supported Sir Richard both mentally and emotionally throughout their life together. In a previous article celebrating her 70th birthday, he shared how he fell in love with her at first sight while she worked in a bric-a-brac shop in London. He humorously noted that he had to "persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects" before they began dating. The couple's enduring love story has touched many, and Sir Richard's tribute highlights the profound impact Joan had on his life and the lives of their family.