LONDON — Former One Direction members came together on Tuesday to pay their respects at the funeral of their late bandmate, Liam Payne.
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson attended the somber service for Payne, who tragically passed away after an incident involving a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last month at the age of 31.
A horse-drawn carriage transported Payne’s coffin to St. Mary’s Church in Amersham, located around 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of London.
The procession included the dark blue casket adorned with silver handles and decorated with white roses, which was carried into the ancient 800-year-old church for a private ceremony.
The details of the funeral were kept confidential beforehand to avoid attracting a large crowd; however, dozens of local community members and fans still assembled nearby.
Silence fell over the crowd as Payne’s parents, Geoff and Karen, arrived and stood alongside the horse-drawn carriage, which displayed floral tributes labeled “Son” and “Daddy.” Payne was the father of a 7-year-old son named Bear, whom he shared with singer Cheryl Tweedy.
The gathering included Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, actor James Corden, retired soccer player Robbie Keane, and music executive Simon Cowell, who originally formed One Direction.
The group came together in 2010 after the five hopefuls auditioned as solo performers on “The X-Factor,” with Cowell playing a pivotal role as a judge who saw potential in them.
One Direction quickly rose to become one of the most successful boy bands globally, gaining a devoted fan base known as “Directioners.”
Following the band’s split in 2016, Payne pursued a solo music career that did not achieve the same level of success.
He had been open about his challenges regarding mental health and alcohol as he navigated the pressures that came with fame.
In an investigation into his death, prosecutors in Argentina stated that traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant were found in Payne’s system after he fell from the third-floor balcony of his room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16.
Authorities have charged three individuals in connection with his passing, citing charges related to abandonment and the facilitation of drug use.