Sir Richard Branson has thanked well-wishers following the death of his wife Joan Templeman last month.
The 75-year-old Virgin Group founder was left "heartbroken" following the passing of his wife of 36 years in November at the age of 80 and has now posted an emotional message declaring that he and his family "now just want to celebrate Joan and the wonderful life she lived".
Branson's post on Instagram read: "Thank you to everyone who has shared such kind messages about Joan. Our whole family are so touched by the outpouring of love. It brings us great comfort and it means so much to us all...
"We're the kind of family that now just want to celebrate Joan and the wonderful life she lived. I feel so fortunate to have met her all those years ago...
"She was just a joy to be around - as so many of your messages reiterated. Sending big hugs to everyone who has been in contact. And to anyone who has lost a family member recently, our thoughts (and Joan's thoughts, I'm sure) are with you as well."
Branson had revealed that a quirk of fate had allowed him to be with his wife in her final hours as they were both in the same hospital together.
In a piece called Remembering Joan, the businessman wrote: "Fate has a strange way of working. 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 to end up on the same floor, like love-struck teenagers delighted to find each other again.
"We had a lovely lunch that day. She was in positive spirits and getting stronger. She smiled at me, that radiant smile that lit up her whole face, the same smile I fell in love with the very first moment I saw her, half a century ago...
"Then 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."
Branson - who has children Holly, 44, and Sam, 40, with Joan - added: "What an incredible final year we all had together...
"Her beautiful 80th birthday celebration at Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, surrounded by her closest friends; Sam's 40th celebrations onboard Virgin Voyages; countless moments where she was beaming with happiness.
"She lived so fully and so 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."
