Cheryl helped to 'smooth' One Direction 'tension' at Liam Payne's funeral in poignant move

Liam Payne: Guests arrive for funeral of One Direction singer

Cheryl reportedly played peacemaker among the One Direction lads at Liam Payne's funeral.

The pop star, who was romantically involved with Liam from 2016 to 2018 and is the mother of his son Bear, was joined by her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh at the private service on Wednesday.

Zayn Malik and the rest of One Direction set aside their differences to attend the funeral, marking the first reunion of the band in nearly a decade. The last time they were together was when they rallied behind Louis as he performed shortly after his mother's death - under more "absolutely tragic" circumstances.

It's been reported that there have been some difficulties since then, so Cheryl, 41, was there to assist the former bandmates on Wednesday. Following the wake, it's understood that Cheryl welcomed Liam's family and friends, including the One Direction boys, into a round marquee in the back garden of Liam's mansion near Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.

It appears that Cheryl was instrumental in easing tensions here, just hours after Liam was laid to rest.

Cheryl reportedly helped to smooth 'tension' between the 1D band (Image: WireImage)

An insider revealed: "Of course, they all wanted to be there, they shared so much with Liam. But that doesn't mean they are best friends any more. They haven't worked together for almost ten years they have grown apart. In fact, the last time they all met up, it was because Simon Cowell insisted they did after Louis's mum died, and that was eight years ago," reports the Mirror.

According to the Daily Mail, the boys have since "drifted apart". Nonetheless, as a tribute to their shared memories, they stood united at the memorial service on Wednesday, where mourners in the marque raised a toast to Liam and embraced warmly.

Zayn Malik attended the funeral with the other One Direction lads (Image: NC)

The fond memories between father and son were encapsulated by a set of life-sized dinosaurs – one grey, the other green which Liam had purchased online a decade earlier. These beloved items were present at the event, bringing solace and happy remembrances, especially for Cheryl who saw them as symbols of hope.

Louis and Zayn, hailing from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, like Liam, reportedly offered him exceptional support over recent years. The Mail was informed by a source: "Louis and Zayn were such a support to Liam in the last few years. They are distraught."

Cheryl was instrumental in easing tension between the boys (Image: Getty)

This sentiment was echoed intensely in a joint statement issued by "Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry" the day following Liam's demise on October 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Overcoming hurdles of the past decade, they expressed, in a touching note: "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.

"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 for ever. 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."