One Direction bandmates reunite at Liam Payne's funeral on 'incredibly difficult day'
AMERSHAM, ENGLAND: Harry Styles and members of One Direction gathered in London on Wednesday, November 20, to bid farewell to Liam Payne.
Over a month after Payne's tragic death, the bandmates united at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, England, for the private service.
Heartbreaking 'Daddy' tribute at Liam Payne's funeral
Liam Payne’s coffin arrived in a horse-drawn carriage adorned with floral tributes spelling "Daddy" and "Son."
Fans gathered outside the church to pay their respects, creating a poignant scene for the late singer.
Rest in Peace @LiamPayne
— 🅰️1LondonLady ☆ 🎗 (@A1LondonLady) November 20, 2024
It's a whose who of the music world at the funeral but very sad indeed pic.twitter.com/rALcXpWHpz
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Styles arrived separately for what marked their first reunion as a group since their final concert in 2015.
Styles was seen in tears upon arriving at the memorial, according to the New York Post.
Louis Tomlinson, who described Payne as his "brother" in an Instagram tribute, was also spotted as he arrived to bid his friend goodbye.
Simon Cowell, who formed One Direction on 'The X Factor' in 2010, also attended alongside his fiancee Lauren Silverman.
'Girl Aloud' singer Cheryl Cole, Payne’s ex-girlfriend, with whom he shares seven-year-old son Bear, joined the mourners to bid him farewell.
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Kate Cassidy, Payne's girlfriend, who had accompanied him in Argentina days before his death, was also present, along with several other notable figures.
Liam Payne’s laid to rest in 'a scene of profound love'
The service was described as "a scene of profound love," when Liam Payne was laid to rest, reported Mirror.
Payne’s parents, Karen and Geoff Payne also saw his coffin being taken into the church before being laid to rest.
Seeing Liam's parents walk behind his coffin was heart breaking. No parent should ever have to endure the pain of burying their child 😔 #LiamPaynepic.twitter.com/08JTxVxSSY
— 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚢 ✨ (@amoremoondizis) November 20, 2024
A source told The Sun, "His family has gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send-off he deserves," before saying, "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."
The funeral's location was kept a closely guarded secret, and it was only when 'no parking' signs appeared around the church that residents became aware of the event.
Two traffic enforcement officers were patrolling the area, issuing tickets to drivers who disregarded the signs.
Fans reluctant to leave Liam Payne's funeral
Dozens of fans waited outside St Mary’s Church, holding flowers and handwritten notes in tribute to Liam Payne. Some had traveled long distances to honor him.
"Fans had gathered in their dozens, waiting for hours in the cold, to pay their last respects to Liam. Some had traveled from far and wide, clutching flowers or handwritten notes—small tokens of a life that had touched so many," Mirror reported.
The report added, "As the funeral was conducted, fans lingered, reluctant to leave. One placed flowers at St Mary’s, adding to the growing collection of tributes paid to Liam since his death. It was a scene of profound love from those who arrived."
Payne tragically fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16. An autopsy determined the 31-year-old suffered "polytrauma and internal and external bleeding" from the fall.