The cause of death of Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson's wife Joan has been revealed following the tragedy that struck the family at the close of last year. Lady Joan Sarah Drummond Branson, 80, passed away from a blood clot on November 24 last year at London Bridge Hospital, due to complications arising from a fall-induced back injury sustained a fortnight earlier. At a pre-inquest review hearing, Sir Richard and Joan's daughter Holly, 44, stated that the family had no intention of apportioning blame for her death.

However, an inquest to be held later this year will examine whether Lady Branson ought to have been prescribed blood thinners and whether she was wearing anti-clot stockings at the time of her passing. Speaking at the hearing at Inner West London Coroners' Court, Holly said: "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." Senior Coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox informed the court that the forthcoming inquest would determine whether Lady Branson was wearing Thrombo-Embolus Deterrent (TED) stockings, which reduce the risk of blood clots and are typically worn by patients during periods of inactivity.

Prof Wilcox advised the court that testimony from an expert witness would be required to establish whether a prescription of the anti-coagulant Heparin "would have prevented Lady Branson's death", given her prior history of clots. A specialist haematologist is due to present their findings at the inquest, which is scheduled for September. Joan's history of blood clots stretched back to at least 2010. In 2018, Sir Richard revealed that one morning approximately eight years prior, Joan had awoken to discover her leg had swollen to three times its usual size — which led to her receiving a groundbreaking new treatment, reports the Mirror.

She had endured a series of clots running from her ankle up to her groin — the "worst case" physicians at that hospital had ever encountered. Sir Richard said: "She was in great danger of a pulmonary embolism, as bits of the clot threatened to break away and travel to her lungs. The doctors put her on a drug called Warfarin, pulled a compression stocking over her leg and told her that over a number of years the leg would gradually improve, but that at any stage she might suffer a major pulmonary embolism that could kill her."

Sir Richard was in the very same hospital as his wife when she passed away, having injured his shoulder after falling from a bicycle in India. He announced his wife's death on Instagram on November 25 last year. He said: "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. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x"

The following day, on virgin.com, he penned a more extensive tribute. He said: "Joan was the most wonderful partner, friend, mum and grandmother we could ever have wished for. Holly, Sam and I are all together now, doing our best to smile through the tears and to focus on all the good things she brought into our world. There are so many.

"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."

Sir Richard and Joan's romance began 1976, after he met her at The Manor, the residential recording studio he had established for Virgin Records. At the time, Joan was married to her first husband, rock pianist Ronnie Leahy, and the two embarked upon an affair.

Sir Richard and Joan's first child, Clare Sarah, was stillborn in 1979. Joan would later dedicate part of her philanthropic efforts to supporting premature birth charities. The couple's children Holly and Sam were born in 1981 and 1985 respectively. Joan's four grandchildren also survive her.