Liam Payne’s funeral will take place today, with all four of his former One Direction bandmates expected to pay their respects at the ceremony in the Home Counties.
The 31-year-old star died just over a month ago on October 16 from head injuries he suffered after falling from the balcony of his third-floor hotel suite in Buenos Aires.
His heart-broken father Geoff brought his son’s remains back to Britain two weeks ago, after extensive examinations from the Argentinian authorities into his death.
Payne had travelled to Argentina in September with his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores – described by some as his manager – to renew his visa to live in the US and watch his former bandmate Niall Horan perform.
He will be laid to rest today in a private funeral in the Home Counties where just his family and closest friends will attend, followed by a wake.
Early this morning, beautiful flowers were arranged outside the entrance to the church where his funeral is being held as final preparations were completed.
Former One Direction members Harry Styles, 30, Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are expected to be there to say their final goodbyes.
In a joint statement released in the wake of Payne’s tragic death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan, and Styles said they were ‘completely devastated.’
‘In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,’ they said.
‘But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
‘The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
‘We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.’
Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’
Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.
Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he ‘ever needs me’ and ‘tell him stories of how amazing his dad was’.
‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he wrote.
‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
‘I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.
‘Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X’.
Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.
In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.
‘And I can’t explain you you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.
‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’