Kate Cassidy says goodbye to ‘love of my life’: Liam Payne’s heartbroken girlfriend who revealed they planned to get married after his death joins mourners at funeral

Liam Payne’s heartbroken girlfriend Kate Cassidy has arrived at the funeral of the tragic One Direction star who she described as ‘the love of my life’.

Ms Cassidy was seen ahead of this afternoon’s ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, wearing a long black coat with fur trim and sunglasses.

Payne died on October 16 at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Ms Cassidy had been with Payne in Argentina before leaving to return to her home in Miami, Florida. She later paid tribute and said they were planning to get married.

She stopped today to look at a large floral tribute of five white bowls at the entrance to the church, having previously mentioned that bowling was one of Payne’s favorite sports.

Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was among the mourners who arrived at the One Direction pop star’s funeral in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs Cassidy (left) was seen arriving at St Mary’s Church wearing a long black coat with fur trim and sunglasses, next to Damien Hurley

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy are pictured here at the London premiere of All Of Those Voices in March last year

Kate Cassidy posted a tribute to Liam Payne on Instagram last month after his death

The funeral, which will be held in the Home Counties, will be attended by his family and close friends.

The pop star’s ex, Cheryl WI’ll be there too, with all four of his former ones One Direction band members were also expected to join the mourners.

Nicola Roberts, 39, Kimberley Walsh, 43, and Damian Hurley, 22, were among the first celebrities to arrive at the church today.

Harry Styles, 30, also arrived and Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are all expected to attend what is believed to be their first public gathering as a group since One Direction’s last concert in 2015 .

A church source said a choir and musicians would perform at the service, which would start at 1 p.m.

One of the floral displays features bowling pins and a ball – a nod to his love of bowling, which Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week.

Ms Cassidy, 25, left Argentina two days before the singer plunged 13 meters to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires at the age of 31.

She and Payne had originally flown to Buenos Aires to attend his former bandmate Horan’s concert on October 4, but he remained in the country after his girlfriend flew home on October 14.

Kate and Liam first started dating in October 2022 and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year

Payne, pictured in Dubai last year, died on October 16 at the age of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires

Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, arrives at church today for the singer’s funeral, along with Damian Hurley, 22

Singer Nicola Roberts, 39, hugs a fellow mourner before the funeral this afternoon

Cheryl Cole, Payne’s ex and mother of his son, will attend the One Direction star’s funeral today. She was seen earlier this year

Harry Styles, who was in One Direction with Liam Payne, was also spotted today

After his death, she wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying: ‘Thank you for all the kind words and love sent my way.

‘I was completely at my wits’ end. Nothing about the past few days felt real. I ask and pray that you give me the grace and space to deal with this privately.”

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

Ms Cassidy and Payne first started dating in October 2022 and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year.

The pair then put an end to the split rumors by enjoying a date in London in June last year, and later that year she supported him when he was rushed to hospital with a ‘severe kidney infection’.

The location of today’s funeral is a closely guarded secret, and local residents only realized it was taking place when ‘no parking’ signs were posted around the church.

Two traffic enforcement officers patrolled the area and issued tickets to drivers who ignored the signs.

Payne traveled to Argentina in September, where he saw former bandmate Niall Horan perform as well as his good friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his US visa when the tragedy occurred.

One of the floral displays features bowling pins and a ball – a nod to his love of bowling, which Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week

Kimberley Walsh, 43, was one of the first celebrities to arrive outside the church

Damian Hurley waits outside with mourners for Payne’s funeral

Payne and Ms Cassidy watched on Center Court at Wimbledon last year

The entrance to the church where the service takes place is decorated with candle lanterns and white roses arranged in the surrounding shrubs.

In a joint statement released after Payne’s death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan and Styles said they were “completely devastated.”

“In due time, and when everyone is able, there will be more to say,” they said.

“But for now, we will take time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we loved dearly.

“The memories we shared with him will be cherished 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.’

Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.

Styles wrote on Instagram that he was “truly devastated” and will “always miss him.”

Payne was on holiday in South America with girlfriend Kate Cassidy (left)

Payne rose to fame with the band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates in 2013

Flowers are being prepared at the church in the Home Counties ahead of Payne’s funeral

Flower arrangers outside the entrance to the church where his funeral takes place

Tributes and flowers are placed outside St Peter’s collegiate church in memory of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, in Wolverhampton

“His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honor to stand next to him as he did that.

‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had a life energy that was contagious.

“He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever be some of the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my dear friend.

‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear and everyone around the world who knew and loved him as I do.’

Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of ​​saying goodbye’.

He posted a photo to his Instagram page of them both on stage, with Payne lovingly placing his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.

Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he “ever needs me” and “tell him stories about how great his dad was.”