In an interview with The Telegraph, the Virgin Group founder sets out his hopes for Virgin Galactic, as well as discussing philanthropy, succession, Brexit - and why he's not slowing down just yet

Sir Richard Branson could be forgiven for looking a little worn out. In the week leading up to our meeting, he has visited Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, New Zealand, Los Angeles, and, latterly, Seattle.

As well as a series of paid speeches, he has launched a mobile phone company in Dubai and a new Virgin Active gym in Singapore.

Two nights before, he dined with a small group of guests including supermodel Rachel Hunter and bronze Olympic medal winning Pole Vaulter Eliza McCartney at Auckland’s Seafarers Club to talk about entrepreneurship.

When we talk, he is in the capital of America’s Pacific Northwest for 36 hours before travelling to his island home of Necker in the British Virgin Islands for a charity event before a week’s holiday. He looks, unsurprisingly, somewhat tired.

Underneath his trademark white shirt with plunging neckline, a plaster sits on his chest, and he offers his left hand to greet me, as he has injured his right. Are these the last visible signs of the motorbike crash last August which he himself said he was “incredibly lucky” to survive?