Surprise, Sir Richard! Holly Branson shares snaps from her father’s 70th birthday party on Necker Island – complete with inflatable palm trees and cut-outs of family who couldn’t make it
- Holly and Sam Branson threw their father Sir Richard a surprise birthday party
- Businesswoman Holly revealed they celebrated his 70th on Necker Island
- The siblings decorated the party with inflatable props and life-sized cut-outs
- Explained it was a smaller soiree than originally planned but was still special
Sir Richard Branson celebrated his 70th birthday with a surprise party organised by his children, daughter Holly has revealed.
The Virgin mogul marked the milestone with his wife Joan, their two children and their families on private Necker Island in the Caribbean earlier this month.
Daughter Holly, 38, shared photos of the intimate soiree on Instagram today and revealed she decorated with inflatable trees and pineapples sourced from the family’s ‘party box’.
Birthday boy! The Virgin boss marked the milestone this month with his wife, two children, their respective spouses and his five grandchildren on private Necker Island in the Caribbean. Pictured, Sir Richard with wife Joan and children Sam and Holly at the surprise party
Surprise! The moment Sir Richard and wife Joan arrived at the party. Holly said her father reacted with ‘sheer joy’ and shed a tear as he watched videos of his family and loved ones
Although family members including Sir Richard’s beloved 98-year-old mother Eve couldn’t make the bash, they were there in spirit thanks to life-sized cardboard cutouts.
Holly, who shares three children with husband Freddie Andrewes, told how she and Sam, 35, had thrown Sir Richard off the scent by saying the party they had planned had been postponed until 2021.
Sam is married to Isabella Calthorpe, the half-sister of Prince Harry’s ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, who tied the knot in private last weekend.
Posting on Instagram, Holly wrote: ‘Then with all the stealth we could muster, we spent weeks secretly emailing all of his friends and family asking for video messages and photos.
‘Surreptitiously rummaging in the party box for inflatable palm trees, flamingoes and pineapples to dress the surprise party.
Family first: Although family members including Sir Richard’s beloved 98-year-old mother Eve couldn’t make the bash, they were there in spirit thanks to life-sized cardboard cutouts. Pictured, Richard with cut-outs of his mother (centre) and sisters Lindy and Vanessa
Getting ready: The family were on hand to surprise birthday boy Sir Richard on the day
‘Then, at just the right moment, gathered his children (me and Sam); his wonderful son and daughter in law (Freddie and Bellie) and his five grandchildren together to jump out and shout “Surprise, Richard!” at the top of our voices!’
She explained her father reacted with ‘sheer joy’ and shed a tear as he watched videos of his family and loved ones.
She continued: ‘It wasn’t the big party that had been planned but it was magical, intimate and filled with so much love. Granny Eve, Auntie Vanessa and Auntie Lindy and dad’s closest friends couldn’t be there in person but we made sure they were there in spirit.
Lasting love: Sir Richard ended the night dancing with his wife of 31 years, Joan
‘It was so fun to see dad hugging and kissing all the cardboard cutouts – he missed the actual people but loved that they were still there to celebrate with him, if somewhat two-dimensional!’
Sir Richard ended the night dancing with his wife of 31 years, Joan.
The party took place just days before Sir Richard revealed the cabin design for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity, which will take the company’s first fee-paying astronauts to the edge of space.
Each seat in the six-person cabin has two personal windows for a view of the Earth below and ‘mood lighting’ linked to each phase of the space flight.
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