Sir Richard Brandson has paid a touching tribute to his wife Joan, after announcing that she had sadly died. The Virgin boss posted a tribute to Joan, his partner of 50 years, on Instagram on Tuesday evening.

The 75-year-old billionaire described her as the “most wonderful mum and grandmum.” 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.

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“She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.

“Love you forever Joan x”

The couple met in 1976 at Branson’s Virgin Records studio before marrying in 1989 on Branson’s Necker Island.

To mark their 40 year wedding anniversary in 2016, Branson wrote a love letter to Joan in which he described meeting her as “love at first sight.”

He wrote: “I experienced love at first sight upon meeting a blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty named Joan, who just happened to be making a cup of tea.

“I generally make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and Joan won my heart instantly. She was unlike any other woman I had ever met.

“She was beautiful. She was bright. She was witty. She was down to earth. She was fun. And she had eyes made of magic.”

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