Liam Payne funeral: Kate Cassidy arrives arm in arm with Damian Hurley
A select group of stars including James Corden joined Harry Styles and his former One Direction band mates to mourn Liam Payne.
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Liam Payne’s former One Direction band members reunited for a final farewell following his tragic death in Brazil.
A select group of superstars and close family and friends gathered to mourn the singer on Wednesday following his sudden death in Buenos Aires last month aged just 31.
Harry Styles arrived dressed all in black, his head down as he entered the intimate church in Amersham in the Home Counties on the outskirts of London.
Styles was seen sobbing quietly as he made his way into the church.
He was joined shortly after by fellow 1D star Niall Horan whose concert Payne was attending in Argentina at the time of his death.
Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson also attended the intimate service as did former X Factor judge Simon Cowell and his fiancee Lauren Silverman.
At one one point Cowell embraced with Payne’s parents as he was consoled.
Payne’s ex Cheryl Cole Tweedy, who is the mother of his seven-year-old son Bear, also paid her respects.
With sunglasses covering her eyes and Elizabeth Hurley’s son Damian beside her for support, Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy cut a sorrowful figure as she walked into his funeral.
The service began at 1pm local time (midnight Thursday AEDT).
Payne’s parents Geoff and Karen embraced as they walked together to lay their son to rest.
British comedian James Corden, who arrived in the same car as Styles, looked uncharacteristically sombre for the occasion.
The location of the small church chosen for the memorial had been kept a closely guarded secret to prevent hordes of well-meaning fans from descending upon it.
Payne’s casket arrived on a white horse-drawn hearse and was carried into the humble church by his pall bearers.
Flowers on one side of the hearse spelled out SON and on the other side they read DADDY paying tribute to the two roles in life Payne held most dear.
Following a short service inside the church, the mourners re-emerged lead by the priest with Payne’s coffin carried out behind him.
Payne’s final charitable act was listed on the star’s funeral order of service: donations for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity to help kids with cancer.
It read: “Thank you for your donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity in memory of our friend Liam Payne.
“Your donation today will continue Liam’s legacy by helping to build a brand new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“This incredible new building will help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer.’”
A number of well known British personalities were in attendance at the memorial.
This included former boy and girl band members and married couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes, British singers Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh and UK breakfast radio stars Jordan North and Sian Welby.
The singer fell to his death from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The star had been in the country to renew his US visa having relocated to Florida with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy.
During his trip he attended Niall Horan’s sellout concert at the Movistar Arena.
In a joint statement released in the wake of Payne’s tragic death, his One Direction bandmates said they were “completely devastated”.
“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,’” they said.
“But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
“We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry”.
Payne was father to seven-year-old son Bear, who he shared with ex-partner Cheryl Cole of pop band Girls Aloud fame.
Three people have been charged in connection to Payne’s death, including a hotel employee and a suspected drug dealer.
A toxicology report completed as part of Payne’s autopsy revealed traces of pink cocaine – a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA – in his system, as well as cocaine and benzodiazepine.
Police also found an improvised aluminium pipe used to smoke crack cocaine in his suite.
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