Family members have joined some of Britain’s biggest stars to pay their respects to Liam Payne in an emotional private service after his tragic death at the age of just 31.
Harry Styles, 30, joined fellow members of One Direction to celebrate the life of their beloved former bandmate, having described feeling ‘completely devastated’ after he fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina last month.
Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, 43, were among the first to arrive as they rallied around their fellow Girls Aloud member Cheryl, who is the mother of Payne’s seven-year-old son, Bear. They were followed shortly after by Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, who was comforted by her friend Damian Hurley, 22.
Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, arrived separately at the church in what is thought to be their first time together as a group since their last concert in 2015.
One Direction creator Simon Cowell arrived at the service with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, alongside the likes of new Radio 2 Breakfast DJ Scott Mills, James Corden and Marvin and Rochelle Humes – walking past floral displays showing bowling pins and a ball in a poignant reference to Payne’s love of bowling.
A horse-drawn carriage later arrived at the church carrying a dark blue coffin with silver handles, topped with white roses. On top of the carriage, there was a red floral tribute which said ‘son’ and a blue tribute which said ‘daddy’.
Silence fell upon the crowd as Payne’s father Geoff and his mother Karen got out of a vehicle and stood next to the carriage before the dark blue coffin was carried into the church through a side door.
Also read:
Other celebrities attending the service include Capital radio DJs Chris Stark, Jordan North and Sian Welby, who arrived together.
Scott Mills, who spent a lot of time with One Direction in the early days of their career, wore a black long coat over dark trousers for the service.
Former professional footballer Robbie Keane and broadcaster Adrian Chiles were also amongst the mourners gathering to pay their last respects to Payne.
Niall Horan and his girlfriend Amelia Woolley were dropped off by a black Range Rover and went straight into the church, while Harry Styles was accompanied by actor and presenter James Corden.
JLS star Marvin Humes wore a long back coat, black trousers and black gloves while Rochelle also donned a long coat with cape detailing.
The funeral’s location has been a closely guarded secret, and local residents only realised it was taking place when ‘no parking’ signs were erected around the church.
Two traffic enforcement officers patrolled the area handing out tickets to any drivers ignoring the signs.
Payne travelled to Argentina in September where he watched former bandmate Niall Horan perform and also saw his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his visa to live in the US when the tragedy occurred.
The entrance of the church which is hosting the service has been decorated with candle lanterns and white roses that have been arranged in surrounding shrubbery.
One source told The Sun: ‘His family have gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send off he deserves.
‘Liam may have been a global superstar but to Geoff and Karen he will always be their little boy. It is going to be an incredibly difficult day.’
In a joint statement released following Payne’s 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 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.’