Full list of guests expected to attend Liam Payne’s funeral today

Liam Payne’s funeral will take place today, with preparations already underway outside the venue early this morning.

The late One Direction singer will be laid to rest in the Home Counties following the service, with his family and friends expected to be in attendance.

Hours before the funeral, florists were seen arranging flowers and bouquets outside the church where the funeral will be held.

The funeral will be private and attended only by Liam’s family and close friends.

A source told The Sun: ‘His family have gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send off he deserves.

‘Liam may have been a global superstar but to Geoff and Karen he will always be their little boy.

‘It is going to be an incredibly difficult day.’

The former singer died age 31 on October 16, after falling from a balcony in Argentina.

In the short weeks since his death, three arrests have been made in connection to his passing as his fans and loved ones continue to mourn his passing.

Payne died while staying at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an autopsy confirming that he died from multiple injuries sustained in his fall that led to ‘internal and external haemorrhaging.’

Here’s everything we know about who is expected to pay their respects at Liam’s funeral today.

One Direction

It’s been widely reported that the funeral will be attended by Liam’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

Liam rose to superstardom alongside the other members of the band as a teenager when they all appeared on X Factor in 2014 before becoming One Direction.

At the time of Liam’s death, the band released a statement that read: ‘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 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.’

The members shared individual tributes on social media as well.

Zayn also recently announced that he would be postponing a concert scheduled for today, writing on Instagram: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances (the) Zayn Stairway To The Sky Edinburgh show original scheduled for November 20 has been rescheduled for December 8.’

Cheryl

Cheryl, 41, was a member of the 00s pop group Girls Aloud – made up of Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – and dated Liam from 2016 to 2018.

The pair shared a seven-year-old son, Bear, who was born in 2017.

After Liam’s death, Cheryl released a statement on social media which was supported by her Girls Aloud bandmates.

‘As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,’ she wrote.

She added that her spirit was being troubled by the thought of not being able to protect Bear in the future from seeing some reports.

‘Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourselves if you’d like your own family or child to read them.

‘Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last. Thank you, Cheryl.’

Liam’s son Bear

Born March 22, 2017, Liam and Cheryl’s son Bear is only seven years old.

When he was born, Liam shared a photo on Instagram with the caption: ‘I’m incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world, it’s a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favourite memory I have so far.

‘I’m completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been the whole way through this, she’s really made my dreams come true.

‘We haven’t named him yet but he’s already capturing hearts including mine. I feel very blessed.’

During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden six months after Bear was born, Liam explained why the couple chose the name Bear: ‘He had this thing where if they don’t have a good cry, they get fluid in their lungs, which is quite serious, so he was like going “grrrr.”

‘I had like 10 doctors come in the room, and in the end, the guy was just like, “Dude, I’m not being funny. There’s nothing wrong with him. He just likes to make a lot of noise.'” And that’s carried on ever since, so he just became Bear.’

Kate Cassidy

Kate Cassidy is a 25-year-old influencer who had been dating Liam for two years at the time of his death.

Cassidy had initially joined her boyfriend in Argentina on holiday to watch his former bandmate Niall Horan in concert on October 4. However, she left the country on October 14, just two days before Payne fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

In the wake of Liam’s death, she posted an Instagram and said she was at a ‘complete loss’, adding that she loved him ‘unconditionally and completely’.

‘Thank you for all the kind words and love that has been sent my way,’ she began.

‘I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.

‘Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.’

Liam and Kate began dating in 2022, after he drank at a bar in Charleston, South Carolina, called Ritual, where she was working as a waitress.

After his death, she revealed they had ‘planned to marry.’

Karen and Geoff Payne, Liam’s mother and father

Liam was born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, to his mother Karen and his father Geoff.

Karen worked as a nurse and Geoff worked as a fitter while Liam was growing up. At the time of Liam’s death, they issued a statement to say they were ‘heartbroken.

They added: ‘Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.’

The star’s parents were supportive of his music career, and even appeared alongside him in the 2013 documentary One Direction: This Is Us.

‘We miss him. He left home my little boy and became the boy in a magazine,’ Karen said in the film as she bought a cardboard cutout of his son at one of his concerts.

‘If I have this I can still see him every day. When I see him on stage I absolutely burst with pride, but we do miss him so much.’

Nicola and Ruth, Liam’s sisters

Liam was the younger brother to sisters Nicola and Ruth.

Though both women have mainly stayed out of the public eye, they were often seen supporting Liam’s gigs over the years.

Both women are mothers to their own children, meaning Bear has multiple cousins.

Ruth married her husband in 2016 and welcomed their son, Ashton, in October 2017, making him a very similar age to Bear.

Meanwhile, Nicola welcomed her daughter, Ffion, in June 2020 with her partner, Nick Farnell.

Simon Cowell

The music mogul first met Liam when he was just 14 and auditioned for The X Factor.

Liam made it to Judges’ houses but after not progressing to live shows, Simon advised that he returne two years later. He did just that and was later placed into the group that would become One Direction.

After Liam’s death, Simon posted a tribute on Instagram, writing: ‘You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens.

‘Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.’

He continued the post, reflecting on what Liam meant to him, before concluding: ‘You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a Dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago. I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have.

‘And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it. I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were.

‘And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon. Rest in peace, my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family. Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.’

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