1 day Ago By Michelle Marshall
The family and friends of Liam Payne have travelled to the Home Counties for the One Direction star's funeral following his tragic death in October. Over a month ago, the 31 year old suffered fatal head injuries after falling from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Argentina. Details of his funeral remain largely confidential, but it is believed that only his closest friends and family will attend the service.
Former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, 30, Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are all expected to reunite for the occasion, where Liam's heartbroken loved ones will bid their farewells. He will be laid to rest in one of the Home Counties during a private ceremony closed to the public today. The Home Counties refer to the counties of England that surround London - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
Liam has ties to the area, having lived there with partner Cheryl and their son Bear during the early years of their relationship. After the couple separated, Liam assisted Cheryl in purchasing a £3.7million mansion for raising Bear, where she resided with her mother Joan, reports the Mirror .
Initially, it was thought that one of the churches near Liam's childhood home in Wolverhampton would host the funeral. Wolverhampton is in mourning as fans pay their respects at Liam's memorial, which is brimming with heartfelt tributes. The local council earlier this month "respectfully relocated" the shrine of flowers, cards, and other memorials from the city centre.
Images shared on social media reveal a stunning setup of colourful bouquets, heartfelt letters, flickering candles, balloons, cuddly toys and photographs, all honouring his life. Following his unexpected passing in October, the remaining members of One Direction collectively expressed their heartache, stating: "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.
" Their statement continued: "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." Their statement continued: "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." In a candid interview in 2022, Liam said he hoped to be remembered not for his accolades but for being a "nice guy".
Liam said: "Honestly, just being a nice guy. I’d rather be known for being a nice guy than anything else.”.
