Richard Branson and late wife Joan’s strong bond with their children: Daughter Holly thanked her parents for supporting her while identifying as a boy for seven years months – before her mother’s death aged 80

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Richard Branson announced the heartbreaking death of his beloved wife of 50 years Joan on Tuesday.

Richard Branson, 75, married his wife in 1989. They have two children, Holly and Sam, who were eight and four years old at the time. The couple now have five grandchildren: Holly’s children, Etta, Artie, and Lola, and Sam’s children, Eva-Deia and Bluey Rafe.

Richard Branson announced on social media that his wife, Joan, passed away at the age of 80. He shared that they had been together for 50 years and expressed his heartbreak.

Joan was an incredible mother and grandmother – everything our children and grandchildren could have asked for. She was my closest friend, my constant support, and the most important person in my life. We’ll always love her.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired families who prioritize their children’s well-being, and Richard and Joan really stand out. Their daughter, Holly, recently shared how supportive they were when, as a child, she explored her identity and expressed herself as a boy. It’s so wonderful to see parents create a safe and accepting space for their kids to truly be themselves.

She described their open-mindedness and unconditional love as ’empowering’.

Holly posted a touching message on Instagram celebrating her mother Joan’s 80th birthday. She remembered living as a boy from age four to almost eleven, and shared how her parents always accepted her without making her feel different.

Holly shared an old photo of her mother and wrote about how the past few weeks have been full of love and special family time.

Our family thrives on being with others – whether we know them or not – enjoying delicious food, good music, silly dancing, and plenty of laughs.

I’m so happy! We recently celebrated my brother Sam’s 40th birthday and my wonderful mom’s 80th, both on board a boat.

She went on to say that her mother dislikes attention, but she really wants to share some important life lessons she’s learned from her.

My mum’s greatest strength is her unconditional love. It must have been challenging for her when, as a young child, I decided I wanted to be a boy.

I’m incredibly grateful to my parents for always making me feel accepted and normal.

Holly, who shares three children with her husband Freddie Andrews, also said her mother has always been understanding, compassionate, and a genuinely kind person.

Realizing I and Sam could truly be ourselves is something I deeply appreciate. I’ve learned that unwavering love and support require a lot of patience, and I’m grateful to my Mum for showing me that.

She has openly shared her challenging experience with trying to have a baby, including two miscarriages and unsuccessful attempts with IVF. This led her to explore adoption and surrogacy as options.

Their son, Sam, now lives on his father’s original estate in Oxfordshire. He shares a farmhouse there with his wife, Isabella Amaryllis Charlotte Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, and their two children.

Two years ago, he appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to start his music career, but some people criticized him for benefiting from family connections – a claim often referred to as being a ‘nepo baby’.

Sam, a friend and fan of Ed Sheeran, was on the show today to promote his new song.

After 30 years, Sam, age 40, finally found the confidence to chase his lifelong dream of becoming a pop star.

Viewers criticized the former adventurer and filmmaker after he appeared on the show. He faced accusations of using his connections to get ahead and attempted to gain support by offering fans a chance to visit his private island in Bali if they pre-ordered his album.

Sam’s new job is being strongly supported by his father, Sir Richard, the founder of Virgin Records.

The wealthy businessman shared a photo of his son playing guitar on their private island, expressing how proud he was of him.

When Sam was growing up, he was close friends with the families of musicians like Peter Gabriel and Roger Taylor from Queen.

You won’t believe how this album came together! I met Duran Duran’s Dom Brown at a friend’s place – it was a casual jam session with Simon Le Bon and even Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason! – and we just clicked. Next thing I knew, Dom was laying down guitar tracks on my album. It’s all about those unexpected connections, isn’t it?

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2025-11-25 23:49