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Richard Branson Says Wife Joan Templeman Died 'Quickly and Painlessly' at 80

He described a peaceful passing in hospital with him present, with no cause shared.

Overview

  • In a new Instagram update on Wednesday, Branson said Templeman died suddenly, quickly and without pain while hospitalised, and that he was at her bedside.
  • He wrote that the pair had found themselves on the same hospital corridor—he with a shoulder injury from a bike fall in India and she receiving treatment for back problems—and had shared a “lovely lunch” earlier that day.
  • Branson first announced her death on Tuesday, calling her his best friend, rock, guiding light and world in an emotional tribute.
  • Their relationship began in the mid-1970s and they married on Necker Island in 1989, building a family that includes children Holly and Sam and five grandchildren.
  • The couple’s first daughter, Clare Sarah, died days after birth, and tributes from friends, public figures and fans have poured in since the news broke.