One Direction reunites for first time in nine years at Liam Payne’s funeral: Ex-bandmates come together to say farewells after Zayn Malik left world tour over ‘stress’ in 2015
Members of One Direction today reunited for the first time since splitting up to bid an emotional farewell to their pal Liam Payne.
Ex-bandmates Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, were seen in public together for the first time in nine years as they paid respects to their ‘brother’ Liam, who he fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina last month.
The four singers arrived separately at the church earlier today as they joined friends and family of the 31-year-old in a poignant final send off.
Styles, dressed in black, pulled up to the funeral in a BMW. Horan attended with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, while Malik arrived shortly after Tomlinson.
Malik was the first to quit One Direction in August 2015, citing ‘stress’, after withdrawing from the group’s world tour. The band officially announced its split in January 2016, breaking the hearts of millions of fans across the globe.
Girls Aloud member Cheryl Tweedy, who is the mother of Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear, was also in attendance along with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, and One Direction creator Simon Cowell.
The former X-Factor judge had a heartfelt embrace with Payne’s parents Geoff and Karen as he sought to comfort them following their son’s tragic death.
Radio 2 Breakfast DJ Scott Mills, James Corden and Marvin and Rochelle Humes were also seen walking past floral displays showing bowling pins and a ball in a poignant reference to Payne’s love of bowling.
Former One Direction band members Harry Styles (left) and Niall Horan leave after attending the funeral service of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne
Louis Tomlinson attends the funeral for his fellow One Direction bandmate
One Direction star Zayn Malik departs the funeral for Payne
Liam (pictured) died after he fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina last month
A horse-drawn carriage carried the dark blue coffin with silver handles, which was topped with white roses, to the service at the church in the Home Counties.
A red floral tribute which read ‘son’ and a blue tribute which said ‘daddy’ were also on the funeral carriage. Following the service, his coffin was carried to a black Jaguar hearse.
US influencer Ms Cassidy, arrived alongside Damian Hurley, the son of model Elizabeth Hurley.
Girls Aloud singers Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, who wore long black coats and sunglasses, supported their bandmate Cheryl.
Horan and his girlfriend Amelia Woolley were dropped off by a black Range Rover and went straight into the church, while Harry Styles was accompanied by Corden.
Capital radio DJs Chris Stark, Jordan North and Sian Welby all paid tribute, as well as new BBC Radio 2 breakfast host Scott Mills.
JLS star and TV presenter Marvin Humes, who met Payne when he first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, attended alongside his wife, The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes.
Former professional footballer Robbie Keane and broadcaster Adrian Chiles were also amongst the mourners gathering to pay their last respects to Payne.
Harry Styles leaves following the funeral for Liam Payne, his former One Direction bandmate
Fellow One Direction member Niall Horan also attended the funeral for Liam Payne
Zayn Malik, who wore a black jacket, jack shirt and dark sunglasses, leaves the service today
The horse drawn coffin of Liam Payne arrives at the church
The Order of Service featured a photo of the singer smiling, titled ‘in loving memory’
A floral tribute which spells the word ‘Daddy’ at the funeral
People stand in the door of a church ahead of the funeral service
Prior to the funeral starting, dozens of locals and fans gathered to pay their final respects to Payne, who died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
He had travelled to Argentina in September where he watched Horan perform and also saw his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his visa to live in the US when the tragedy occurred.
Fans around the world held vigils in his memory following his death, while a shrine to the late star was created in his hometown of Wolverhampton.
He died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’, a post-mortem examination report said.
Following Payne’s death, his One Direction bandmates said they were ‘completely devastated’ and will miss the singer ‘terribly’.
In a joint statement released following Payne’s death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan, and Styles 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.
Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was comforted by her friend Damian Hurley at today’s service
Nicola Roberts, who was in Girls Aloud with Cheryl, was also at the service today
Kimberley Walsh, a former member of Girls Aloud, leaves through the churchyard today
Styles and James Corden following the service, which was attended by friends and family
Bandmate Zayn Malik pictured at the funeral today
Payne’s coffin is carried out of the church by pallbearers following the service today
A floral arrangement display of bowling pins was seen at the church
Liam Payne died on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires
‘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.’
Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it. Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.
‘I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’
Scott Mills, who was yesterday revealed as the new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, walks past a floral display showing bowling pins and a ball. This is a nod to Payne’s love of bowling, which Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week
James Corden accompanied Styles into the church on a bright but cold day
Marvin and Rochelle Humes were also in attendance, and are seen here chatting to fellow mourners
Robbie Keane arrives at Payne’s funeral, the location of which was not revealed beforehand
Harry Styles wore a black jacket, a black tie and sunglasses. He is seen shortly after getting out of his car
The singer got out of a black car before making his way towards the church
A small crowd of local people gathered outside the church as mourners, including Styles, walked in
The hearse was pulled through the streets by two white horses with plumes of feathers
Pallbearers carrying Payne’s coffin into the churchyard for his funeral this afternoon
The service has not been opened to the public, with only family and friends in attendance
A floral tribute reading ‘Daddy’. Payne shared a seven-year-old son with his ex girlfriend, Cheryl Tweedy
Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting 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 of how amazing his dad was’.
‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he wrote.
‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
‘I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.
‘Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X’.
Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.
Niall Horan is greeted as he walks into the church past security guards
Tomlinson and Malik walk past floral tributes to their former bandmate
Malik had his head bowed and wore sunglasses while passing through the churchyard
Cowell, seen with his girlfriend Laurence Silverman, created One Direction
Chris Stark (left) and Jordan North (centre) arrive for Payne’s funeral
Ms Cassidy was accompanied into the service by her friend, Damian Hurley
Corden arrives at the service, which is being held at a church in the Home Counties
Rochelle Humes was accompanied by her husband Marvin
Damian Hurley waits outside with mourners before Payne’s funeral
Adrian Chiles walking through the churchyard wearing a West Bromwich Albion top
Members of the public line the route to Payne’s funeral service
Louis Tomlinson said he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’ in a separate tribute to Payne
Zayn Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’
Harry Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’
In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.
‘And I can’t explain you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.
‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.
‘I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’
