Amersham, England — Liam Payne’s Funeral Held in Buckinghamshire
Family, friends, and former bandmates gathered on Wednesday for the funeral of One Direction star Liam Payne, who tragically passed away last month after falling from a hotel room in Buenos Aires. The private service took place at St. Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, just outside London. Among the mourners were Payne’s former bandmates—Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson—as well as his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and his former partner, singer Cheryl Tweedy.
A crowd of around a dozen fans stood behind a cordon nearby, watching as mourners hugged each other before entering the 12th-century church to pay their respects. Payne’s coffin arrived in a white horse-drawn hearse, adorned with floral tributes spelling out “Son” and “Daddy,” followed by his parents.
Payne, 31, died on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. The news of his passing sent shockwaves through the world, sparking an outpouring of grief from family, friends, former bandmates, and fans. Vigils were held across the globe as people offered their condolences.
Payne, who had risen to fame as a member of One Direction, was found to have died from “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” after the fall. His room’s balcony overlooked a rear patio from a height of around 45 feet. Hotel staff had called emergency services twice, reporting that Payne was “overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol” and causing damage to the room. Investigators later confirmed Payne was alone at the time and appeared to be experiencing a substance-related episode.
In early November, Argentine prosecutors charged three individuals in connection with Payne’s death, including one who had spent every day with him during his stay in Buenos Aires. This person was charged with abandonment of a person followed by death, which could result in a sentence of five to 15 years in prison, according to Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office.
Payne’s family issued a brief statement after his death, saying: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”
His One Direction co-stars expressed their devastation, describing the loss as “completely devastating.” After the band’s formation in 2010, One Direction became one of the highest-grossing live acts worldwide. In 2016, following Malik’s departure, the band announced an indefinite hiatus, though they did not officially split.
Payne found success as a solo artist, with his debut single “Strip That Down” peaking at number three on the UK charts and number 10 on the US Billboard charts. However, in recent years, he openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and the pressures of fame. His latest solo work, “Teardrops,” was released in March, with plans for a second album.
Born and raised in Wolverhampton, England, Payne is survived by his parents, two sisters, and a son with Cheryl Tweedy.