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Thu, Dec 26, 2024 | Jumada al-Aakhirah 25, 1446 | DXB
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Liam Payne funeral: Cheryl Cole, former One Direction bandmates attend service
Around a dozen fans watched on from behind a nearby cordon as guests hugged each other before walking past floral tributes
The former members of boy band "One Direction" were among the mourners at the funeral of their band mate Liam Payne on Wednesday, just over a month after the singer died aged 31.
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson joined Payne's family and friends for the private church service in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, north west of London.
Photo: AFP file
Photo: AFP file
Photo: AFP file
Harry Styles departs after the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: Reuters file
Payne's former partner, fellow pop star Cheryl, with whom he had a son now aged seven, was photographed leaving the service.
Louis Tomlinson departs after the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: Reuters file
Photo: Reuters file
Photo: Reuters file
Former One Direction band member Niall Horan arrives to attend the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: AFP file
Zayn Malik arrives to attend the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: Reuters file
A picture taken on November 20, 2024 shows the church where the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne is set to take place, to the west of London. Photo: AFP file
The late singer's girlfriend Kate Cassidy also attended, as did his former partner, the Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy.
Kate Cassidy. Photo: Reuters file
Cheryl Tweedy. Photo: AFP file
Simon Cowell (R) and Lauren Silverman. Photo: AFP file
Actor and comedian James Corden. Photo: Reuters file
Harry Styles and actor and comedian James Corden depart after the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: Reuters file
Singer Nicola Roberts. Photo: Reuters file
Around a dozen fans watched on from behind a nearby cordon as guests hugged each other before walking past floral tributes into the 12th century church to pay their final respects to the singer.
Payne's coffin arrived in a white horse-drawn hearse topped with floral tributes spelling the words "Son" and "Daddy" followed by his parents.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, ahead of his funeral service at a church in the Home Counties. Photo: AFP file
The Horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, arrives ahead of his funeral service at a church in the Home Counties. Photo: AFP file
Coffin of former One Direction singer Liam Payne arrives for the funeral at St. Mary's Church in Amersham. Photo: Reuters file
Photo: AFP file
The singer and songwriter was found dead after he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, triggering an outpouring of grief from fans around the world.
His coffin arrived at the church in a white carriage drawn by two white horses and adorned with floral tributes spelling the words "Son" and "Daddy".
Photo: Reuters file
Attendees included Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy, actor and TV host James Corden, and Simon Cowell, the music mogul who created One Direction for Britain's X Factor talent show.
The group were catapulted to global fame in the 2010s after appearing on the show and they went on to become one of the best selling boy bands of all time.
Karen and Geoff Payne, parents of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, react as their son's coffin arrives for the funeral. Photo: Reuters file
Karen and Geoff Payne, parents of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Photo: Reuters file
With their tousled hair and youthful charm, the band members became teen idols through hit singles like "What Makes You Beautiful", "Live While We're Young", "Best Song Ever" and "Story of My Life."
Fan Victoria Horwood, 28, speaking outside the church, said she had followed Payne since he appeared on X Factor and she was shaken by his death. "I just wanted to pay my respects," she said.
Payne, who was still a teenager when One Direction found global success, struggled with the pressures of fame, and he later spoke about his problems with alcohol.
"Don't get me wrong, we had the best time ever but there were moments where ... you don't realise you have a choice at that point," he said in 2021. "There is a sacrifice for that."
He launched a solo career after One Direction split in 2016 and he released a debut album in 2019.
Payne died from "multiple traumas" and "internal and external haemorrhaging" after the fall from the hotel, a post-mortem examination found.
The balcony attached to his room overlooked a rear patio that was about 14 meters (45 feet) high.
Hotel staff had called emergency services twice to report a guest "overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol" who was "destroying" a hotel room.
Investigators have said he was alone at the time and appeared to have been "going through an episode of substance abuse".
In a short statement following his death, Payne's family said: "We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."
One Direction said they had been "completely devastated" by his death.
After forming in 2010, the band went on to release an album of radio-ready songs each year in time for the holiday shopping season and became one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world.
In 2016, after Malik left, the group said it was on an indefinite hiatus but not splitting up.
Payne's first solo single "Strip That Down" peaked at number three on the UK charts and number 10 on the US Billboard top songs list.
But in recent years he had spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse and coping with fame from an early age.
His last solo work, a single called "Teardrops", was released in March, with a second album promised at the time.
Payne was born and raised in Wolverhampton, in central England. He is survived by his parents, two sisters and a son with Cheryl Tweedy.
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