Liam Payne mourned by One Direction, Cheryl and Simon Cowell at funeral

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy were among those at the funeral held in the Home Counties.

Cheryl Tweedy was pictured outside the church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire where Liam Payne's funeral was held. (PA)
Cheryl Tweedy was pictured outside the church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire where Liam Payne's funeral was held. (PA)

One Direction star Liam Payne has been laid to rest, with many of his family and friends present at his funeral to say goodbye.

His girlfriend Kate Cassidy had been one of the first to arrive at the church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, alongside her friend and Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Hurley.

They joined Payne's family — dad Geoff, mum Ruth and older sisters Nicola and Ruth — as well as the One Direction stars, Cheryl, former The X Factor boss Simon Cowell and more celebrity friends to give him a special send off.

It was a private affair, allowing those close to him to pay tribute as he was laid to rest a month after his death.

British singer Harry Styles arrives to attend the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Getty)
Harry Styles arrives to attend the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Getty)
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman arrive hand-in-hand at Liam Payne's funeral. (Getty)
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman arrive hand-in-hand at Liam Payne's funeral. (Getty)

Undertakers were seen carrying Payne's dark blue coffin from the front of the church through the churchyard.

His coffin, which had silver handles, was decorated with a traditional casket spray made up of an abundance of white roses and green foliage.

"Son" and "daddy" were spelled out in two separate floral displays, in red and blue, as a tribute to remember Payne, and they arrived at the church laid out on the top of the carriage. The service was taking place at St Mary’s Church.

Damian Hurley (right) and Kate Cassidy (second right) arrive for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024.
Damian Hurley (right) and Kate Cassidy (second right) arrive for service. (PA Images)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of former member of One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Getty)
Pallbearers carry the coffin from the church. (Getty)

Payne’s fellow bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson were there to remember their friend, who they fondly called their "brother" in their goodbye Instagram tributes to the late star.

Styles was accompanied by actor and presenter James Corden at the funeral. Meanwhile, Horan was supported by his girlfriend Amelia Woolley — whom he has been dating since 2021 — and they arrived at the church together.

Zayn Malik has arrived at the funeral. (Reuters)
Zayn Malik arrives for the funeral. (Reuters)
AMERSHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Niall Horan attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, England. Former One Direction star Liam Payne's private funeral in Amersham has been widely anticipated to draw celebrities and fans alike, wishing to pay their final respects. The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Former bandmate Niall Horan was amongst the mourners. (WireImage)

Payne and his girlfriend Cassidy had travelled to Argentina to see Horan perform in concert and Horan was the last One Direction star to see him before his death. The One Direction stars had been reunited backstage.

Music mogul Simon Cowell, who stayed in touch with Payne since meeting on The X Factor, joined the family and friends too.

He was supported by his long-time partner Lauren Silverman. They arrived together at the funeral holding hands.

Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024.
Louis Tomlinson arrives for the service. (PA Images)
A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of Liam Payne. (Getty)
A horse-drawn carriage carried the coffin of Liam Payne. (Getty)

Cheryl, who shares seven-year-old son Bear with Payne, was supported by the appearance of her Girls Aloud bandmates who attended the service.

Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh were dropped off in front of the church’s entrance wearing long black coats and sunglasses.

Following Payne's death, Cheryl, who was with Payne from 2016 to 2018, said: “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again."

Liam Payne died aged 31. (Getty)
Liam Payne died aged 31. (Getty)
AMERSHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20:  Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction  on November 20, 2024 in Amersham, United Kingdom. Former One Direction star Liam Payne's private funeral in Amersham has been widely anticipated to draw celebrities and fans alike, wishing to pay their final respects. The singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh arrive ahead of the service. (Getty Images)

The order of service for those attending read "in loving memory of Liam James Payne" and it featured a smiling photograph of the late singer. It also included the date he was born, 29 August 1993, and the date he died on 16 October 2024.

Everyone was wearing traditional black, except Adrian Chiles who paid a poignant tribute to Payne by wearing a West Bromwich Albion jacket.

A funeral director carries a floral tribute which says
A funeral director carries a floral tribute which says 'Daddy'. (PA)
Adrian Chiles wore a West Brom jacket for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Getty)
Fellow football fan Adrian Chiles wore a West Bromwich Albion jacket for the service. Liam Payne was a season ticket holder of the club. (Getty)

The singer was a huge West Bromwich Albion fan and he was a season-ticket holder, like Chiles. The radio presenter recently remembered how they bonded over their love of the football club.

He said BBC Radio 5 Live show. "I got to know him when he first did X Factor... He came up to me and said 'up the Albion' — he was a West Brom fan. Just as a sign as to how massive he was, I remember we snuck him into a Boxing Day game and I think his mum and dad came and sat with me."

Marvin Humes and Rochelle attend the funeral. (Getty)
Marvin Humes and wife Rochelle attend the funeral. (Getty)
Jordan North and Sian Welby attend the funeral.
Jordan North and Sian Welby, who both work for Capital Radio, attend the funeral. (Getty)

He added: "But we managed to secrete our man up in the commentary gantry so he didn't get bothered. Then a friend of mine texted me to ask 'why are West Brom trending number one on Twitter?' I went, well it could be because Liam Payne is here and he tweeted he was here and the whole world went mad for it."

Like Chiles, JLS star Marvin Humes met Payne on The X Factor. The JLS star was joined at the funeral by his wife Rochelle Humes.

James Corden arrived with friend and former One Direction star Harry Styles
James Corden arrived with friend and former One Direction star Harry Styles. (Wire image)
There was an order of service.
The order of service. (AFP)

Humes remained friends with Payne throughout his singing career after their first meeting on The X Factor in 2008. Payne wouldn't find fame until two years later alongside Styles, Tomlinson, Malik and Horan when Cowell put them together to form One Direction on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2010.

During their five year career they sold 70million records with four number one albums.

Also in attendance at the funeral were Capital radio DJs Chris Stark, Jordan North and Sian Welby.

Louis Tomlinson was seen leaving Liam Payne's funeral. (Getty)
Louis Tomlinson seen leaving the funeral. (Getty)

The singer was a close friend of Capital Radio throughout his career. From his One Direction days to his solo career, Payne visited the station many times.

BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills was there to say goodbye to his friend, having spent a lot of time with One Direction in the early days of their career.

Former professional footballer Robbie Keane was also there to pay his respects.

Chris Stark (left) and Scott Mills (centre) saying goodbye. (Getty)
Radio presenters Chris Stark (left) and Scott Mills (centre). (Getty)
Robbie Keane arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne
Former footballer Robbie Keane pictured at the funeral. (Getty)

An eyewitness from the scene described how it was a respectful atmosphere as family and friends gathered to remember the One Direction star.

Rosemary Nicholson, 57, told Yahoo: "I’m happy that only locals knew about this. He deserves a respectful and peaceful send off, in honour of his son, Bear, and family.

"I’ve watched Liam grow up on TV, and from all of his interviews, you can see how genuine and kind he was. I’ve been here about an hour now, and the feeling is solemn.

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman were seen leaving the funeral. (Getty)
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman seen leaving the funeral. (Getty)
Son was spelled out in red flowers. (Getty)
A floral tribute spelling out 'Son' sat on top of the horse-drawn carriage which carried the coffin. (Getty)

"The crowd is slowly building, but everyone is here to pay their respects, and not to interfere.”

Payne, 31, died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. He had been on holiday with his girlfriend Cassidy but she had flown home to Florida two days before his death.

The singer had been in the South American country visiting his former bandmate Horan who was in Argentina on tour.

File photo dated 20/08/13 of (L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. Liam Payne has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to local officials. He was 31. Issue date: Wednesday October 16, 2024.
Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne found global fame as One Direction. (PA Images)
crowds and press line the streets in the Home Counties ahead of the funeral service for One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Rebecca Nicholson/Yahoo)






)
Crowds and press line the streets in the Home Counties village ahead of the funeral service for One Direction singer Liam Payne. (Rebecca Nicholson/Yahoo)

Payne had first auditioned in 2008 when he was 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, with judge Cowell telling him to return to the talent show two years later.

In 2010 he impressed the judges with a rendition of Michael Buble’s version of Cry Me A River before being put with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition – the group which later became One Direction.

Singers Cheryl, left, and Liam Payne pose for photographers upon arrival at the Brit Awards 2018 in London, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Cheryl and Liam Payne were in a relationship from 2016 to 2018. (Invision/AP)

Thousands of One Direction fans across the world have continued to hold vigils in Payne’s memory following his death. People gathered in the streets in the Home Counties ahead of the funeral taking place too.

His family, from Wolverhampton, said they were "heartbroken" at his death when the news broke and said: "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy on the red carpet
Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy is expected to be at the funeral. (Getty)
Fans gather for a vigil with flowers and candles to pay tribute to late British singer Liam Payne, former member of the British pop band One Direction, outside the music studio where One Directon recorded their first two albums, in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 19, 2024. Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel on Wednesday, October 16. The circumstances of the pop star's death, however, remain unclear. (Photo by Mikaela LANDESTROEM / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo by MIKAELA LANDESTROEM/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)
Fans across the world have paid tribute at vigils. (AFP via Getty Images)

Cassidy — who first met Payne in October 2022 — previously said she and Payne had discussed getting married before his death.

An investigation has been launched into his death by prosecutors, and three people have been charged in connection with the incident.