Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmates gathered to bid a heartfelt farewell to the singer during a private funeral held on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old tragically passed away on October 16 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Following delays due to post-mortem examinations, his body was returned to the U.K. earlier this month.
The intimate service took place at a church in Amersham, England, attended by close family and friends. Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson were seen arriving to pay their respects. The latter three were also photographed together outside the church, viewing floral tributes left for Liam.
Girls Aloud stars Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts attended to support their bandmate Cheryl, who dated Liam from 2016 to 2018 and shares their seven-year-old son, Bear. Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, was seen at the service alongside Elizabeth Hurley’s son, Damian.
Other notable attendees included Simon Cowell, who formed One Direction during The X Factor in 2010, and talk show host James Corden.
The day following Liam’s death, his former bandmates released a joint statement expressing their grief. “We are completely devastated by his passing. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam,” they wrote.
Liam died from internal and external injuries, with toxicology reports indicating the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system.
Liam was a key member of One Direction from 2010 until their hiatus in 2016 and later pursued a solo career with hits like Strip That Down, Get Low, and For You. He is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, his sisters, Nicola and Ruth, and his son, Bear.
