Overview
- On New Year’s Eve, Richard Branson honored his late wife under the “brightest moon of the year” during a private gathering on Necker Island with relatives and friends.
- Branson, with children Holly and Sam, led a silent procession in white along the shoreline before a champagne toast and a tribute speech.
- Son Sam performed music, and Polaroid photographs and shared stories shaped a ceremony the family documented in photos and videos.
- Branson said Joan, 80, had been recovering from a back injury before her sudden and painless death in November, though no medical cause has been released.
- Necker Island carries deep significance as the couple’s 1989 wedding site, and the family described their loss as “uncomplicated grief” rooted in strong relationships.