One Direction mourns “Liam Payne” at funeral

Former One Direction members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson gathered at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, for the funeral of bandmate Liam Payne, who died tragically at age 31. The private service memorialized the singer, who passed away on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

A white horse-drawn hearse carried Payne's coffin, adorned with floral tributes spelling "Son" and "Daddy." Notable attendees included his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, former partner Cheryl and their son, Girls Aloud members Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts, and Simon Cowell, who originally formed One Direction on The X Factor. Celebrities such as James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Scott Mills, and Adrian Chiles also paid their respects.

Personal touches included a floral arrangement shaped like bowling pins and ball, honoring one of his favorite pastimes. While a small crowd gathered outside, fans respected the family's privacy, adhering to the sentiment that "memorials are for fans, funerals are for family."

An autopsy revealed Payne suffered multiple traumatic injuries from the fall. His family released a statement remembering him as a "kind, funny and brave soul." Rising to fame through The X Factor in 2010, One Direction became Britain's biggest group since The Beatles, selling 70 million records during their five-year career. Payne later achieved solo success with hits like "Strip That Down" and "Bedroom Floor."

He is survived by his parents, two sisters, and his son Bear, whom he shared with Cheryl. The private service concluded with four pallbearers carrying his coffin from the church, followed by his parents and Cheryl, marking the end of a life that touched millions through his music and personality.