Richard Branson says wife Joan died 'quickly and painlessly' as he issues new statement

Richard Branson has paid tribute to his wife Joan in a lengthy letter, revealing she was in hospital before she sadly died

Richard Branson has revealed his wife Joan died "quickly and painlessly" after a hospital visit. The Virgin boss announced yesterday that his wife Joan had sadly died as he paid tribute to his best friend.

In a new post today, Richard has reflected on their 50-year long romance and the times they shared. He remembered his incredible wife as he paid tribute to his children in an emotional post on social media.

He wrote: "Holly, Sam and I are all together now, doing our best to smile through the tears and to focus on all the good things Joan brought into our world. There are so many. Fate has a strange way of working."

Richard recalled how he had injured his shoulder and ended up in hospital with Joan at the same time. He explained: "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."

Richard then explained how they had a "lovely lunch" together before her death. "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," he added.

In a lengthy tribute letter to his wife, he shared more about their final months together. He said: "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.

"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. It was a relationship that worked."

In a poignant message, Richard insisted Joan's light wasn't gone but had just taken on a new form. He concluded his statement: "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."

*This is a breaking showbiz news story. Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage.