Liam Payne‘s funeral was, of course, invitation-only – and what a star-studded guest list it was.
The family of the One Direction star ensured all their only son’s loved ones were there at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, yesterday, including the members of the band in which he made his name in 2010.
Solemn in funeral black were Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan – the four men Liam had grown up alongside and with whom he shared his rise to stardom.
Walking behind the coffin, Cheryl Tweedy appeared stoic. Hiding her pain behind a pair of black designer sunglasses, the mother of the singer’s seven-year-old son Bear was, say friends, determined to ensure Liam was given the most dignified and loving of goodbyes.
Also in attendance were Cheryl’s fellow Girls Aloud stars Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, who mourned the death of bandmate Sarah Harding from breast cancer only three years ago.
Simon Cowell appeared grim-faced as he arrived with his partner Lauren Silverman. JLS star and TV host Marvin Humes, who met Liam when he first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, was there with his wife, singer and TV presenter Rochelle Humes.
So, there was somewhat of an X Factor theme. And as a result, the day was as tense as it was tragic.
Indeed, it was the first time Liam’s bandmates had reunited since December 2016 when they gathered at the X Factor studios in London to cheer on Louis as he performed just days after his mother Johannah Deakin, 43, died from cancer.
Cheryl Tweedy, who had baby Bear with Liam Payne, attends the late One Direction singer’s funeral
Former bandmate Niall Horan makes his way into the service held in Amersham, Buckinghamshire
‘It is absolutely tragic that the band had to come back together at a funeral for one of their own,’ said one pal. ‘They were once so close, but like in any group, fallouts happen, people change and there are often thousands of miles between them. But they all wanted to be there for their old friend.
‘They have been devastated by Liam’s death. They were like brothers for their most formative years and shared so much history together. But coming face to face at such a tragic event must have been very difficult indeed.’
Industry sources suggest there was tension between the bandmates yesterday. It would have been miraculous if there had not been. Styles, wearing Gucci sunglasses, arrived with actor James Corden, a long-standing friend of Liam and the rest of One Direction. They were among the first to arrive in a blacked-out limo and entered the church together.
Niall arrived separately with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, while Zayn and Louis, who were believed to have remained the closest to Liam, were seen talking. After the ceremony, Styles and Corden left together without any of the remaining One Direction gang. Zayn, who rescheduled a gig which was due to take place in Edinburgh last night, was also seen leaving on his own.
Niall left with his girlfriend, clutching a copy of the order of service, which featured two photographs of Liam. Beaming in both snaps, there was also a request that any donations be made to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
It was possibly the only time in many years that the band had come face to face with Cheryl too. She was a judge in 2010 when the band was formed after the five boys, then babyfaced teenagers aged between 16 and 18, were put together by Nicole Scherzinger.
Meanwhile, Simon Cowell, one of the last to arrive, was not seen with any of One Direction outside the church. Following the service, though, the music mogul was seen embracing Liam’s dad Geoff.
Some music insiders suggest the relationship may have been strained between Cowell and Liam’s parents. Geoff has spoken openly about his sadness that he lost his son to fame after Cowell made Liam and his bandmates global stars, having signed them to his music label SyCo. ‘Geoff is a lovely, lovely man,’ said a friend of the family. ‘He struggled with Liam becoming famous. It was Simon who gave Liam so much, but also the one who took him away as such a young man, so it must have been difficult for Geoff.’
X Factor judge Simon Cowell – who grouped the five One Direction teens together on the talent show – arrives hand-in-hand with partner Lauren Silverman
The music mogul is overcome with grief and is comforted by the singer’s father Geoff
Absent was Argentinian businessman Roger Nores, one of the last people to see Liam before he died. It has been claimed he was the singer’s manager, but sources say that his family didn’t want him there as they said goodbye.
The funeral of Wolverhampton-born Liam took place just four miles from his home in the village of Chalfont Saint Giles. Poignantly, it was where he spent much of his time with his young son. ‘Many expected the funeral to take place in Wolverhampton, a place Liam held close to his heart, but Buckinghamshire is where he, Cheryl and Bear lived together and where they put their roots down. Despite their split, there were some special times which she will now hold dear.’
Cheryl, 41 – who yesterday wrapped up in the cold in a £2,000 velvet-trimmed wool coat by London-based brand Liberowe, accessorised with designer sunglasses and a £950 Christian Louboutin patent clutch – split with Liam in 2018, a little over a year after their son was born. But there was no doubt she was central to proceedings yesterday.
Friends say Cheryl has vowed to ensure Bear will never forget his father, who died aged 31 in the most awful of circumstances on October 16, after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He died instantly and had multiple drugs including crack cocaine and methamphetamine in his system, said toxicology reports.
The horse-drawn carriage shines in the sun as the procession arrives at St Mary’s Church
The order of service for Liam’s funeral yesterday, a laughing picture of the singer used to celebrate his life
It is thought Cheryl planned the ceremony with her ex’s heartbroken parents. For the couple, who brought up Liam and his older sisters Nicola and Ruth in a modest semi, having such a star-studded funeral would have seemed impossible 15 years ago, before Liam achieved fame and earned a fortune of more than £30million.
Kate Cassidy, Liam’s American influencer girlfriend, arrived alongside Damian Hurley, the son of model Elizabeth Hurley for the funeral. The pair are understood to have become friends before she met Liam two years ago.
It is believed to be the first time she had met her late boyfriend’s parents despite dating him since October 2022.
Kate flew out to Buenos Aires in September with Liam, but left to go home to Miami four days before he died.
The 31-year-old died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here, he is pictured at the BMI Award show in London in 2018
From left to right: One Direction members Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles in 2012
Afterwards, Kate revealed they had planned to marry. She told her social media followers he had written her a note which said: ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged and together forever 444’ – the so-called angel number, signifying love and support.
Meanwhile a source close to the Payne family said it has been ‘dreadfully sad’ for Cheryl. ‘She is devastated. She has her own grief but she also has a little boy who won’t see his daddy again and that is just heartbreaking,’ they said. ‘While she and Liam split a long time ago, they were bonded over their love of Bear.
‘Liam died in such a horrible way but the family wanted to remember him in the most perfect way possible.’
Hours before the 1pm funeral, crowds lined the streets – which were closed for the event – wanting to pay tribute to the star.
Presenter Adrian Chiles was among the guests, wearing a replica West Bromwich Albion football club manager’s jacket; a nod to Liam’s love for the team. Former footballer Robbie Keane, who played with Liam in Soccer Aid two years ago, was also there, along with new BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills.
A white horse-drawn carriage carrying Liam’s coffin arrived after the guests had entered the church through a doorway decorated with candle lanterns and white roses.
On top of the dark blue casket were two wreaths, a red and white one which said ‘son’ and another made up of blue and white flowers that said ‘daddy’ – from little Bear.