Sir Richard Branson has shared emotional new photos from a deeply personal trip to Venice — a holiday he was originally supposed to take with his late wife Joan Branson before her heartbreaking death last year.
The Virgin boss, 75, posted touching snapshots from his journey aboard the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express alongside his children Holly and Sam, admitting it became “a trip I’ll never forget.”
Joan sadly passed away in November 2025 at the age of 80, and Richard has now revealed the emotional getaway had originally been booked by daughter Holly as a birthday present for both of them.
Sharing the photos on Instagram, Richard wrote: “A trip I’ll never forget on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. @holly_Branson booked the trip for mine and Joan’s birthdays last year. Although Joan couldn’t be with us, we had a beautiful trip together.”
The billionaire also thanked his children for surrounding him with love during the difficult journey, adding: “We normally just swap photo frames at birthdays, so we felt very loved and spoilt! @BransonSam brought me back down to Earth, winning all the card games though…”
The touching post comes just days after details surrounding Joan’s death were revealed during a pre-inquest hearing.
A court heard Joan died from complications linked to a blood clot just weeks after suffering a fall and back injury. A full inquest is expected later this year and will examine whether additional blood-thinning treatment could potentially have prevented her death.
During the hearing, daughter Holly emotionally praised the care her mother received and said the family were not seeking to blame anyone.
She told the court: “I believe mum had great care. The doctors saved her life three years ago, giving us all three more years together. We just want to help other families if there are any lessons to be learned.”
The hearing also revealed Joan had suffered from blood clot issues for many years and had previously undergone emergency surgery after doctors discovered severe clotting in her leg.
At the time of Joan’s death, Richard himself was recovering in the same hospital after injuring his shoulder in a bike accident in India.
When announcing her passing last year, Richard shared an emotional tribute, calling Joan “my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.”
The couple first met back in 1976 at The Manor recording studio in Oxfordshire and went on to build one of Britain’s most enduring love stories, raising children Holly and Sam together while also mourning the devastating loss of daughter Clare Sarah, who died just days after birth.
