Liam Payne's funeral set for Wolverhampton as One Direction fans urged to respect privacy

Liam Payne's funeral is expected to take place in the coming days. The former One Direction star, aged 31, tragically passed away last month after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina.

Three people have since been charged in relation to his death. Liam, who shot to fame as a young contestant on The X Factor, suffered "serious injuries that were incompatible with life", and an investigation into his death is still ongoing.

The arrests of three suspects, now under formal investigation, were confirmed by officials shortly after Liam's body was released to his devastated family last week. The flight bringing Liam home became the most-tracked flight of all time, as millions of fans worldwide continue to grieve for the late father-of-one, as reported by the Mirror.

Here is everything you need to know about the funeral.

Where will Liam's funeral be held?

Upon hearing the tragic news of his son's passing, Geoff Payne, Liam's father, travelled to Argentina and stayed there until Liam's body was cleared for repatriation. The bereaved father landed at London Heathrow at 7:49am on Thursday morning, with his flight being closely monitored by numerous fans.

The sheer volume of those tracking the aircraft turned it into the most tracked plane globally. Mourning fans have begun paying their respects outside St. Peter's Collegiate Church in central Wolverhampton.

Over recent days, One Direction fans have started to pay their tributes outside the church, with flowers and heartfelt handwritten notes adorning the area beside the Lady Wulfrun statue.

Details surrounding the funeral of Liam Payne, originally from Wolverhampton, are yet to be disclosed. However, it is speculated that the service will take place this week at either St. Peter's or St Paul's Church in Pendeford, near where Liam grew up.

An insider previously told Mail Online: "Liam will have a very big send-off, quite probably at a large cathedral somewhere close to his heart. Liam was so loved by so many people, there will obviously be enormous demand and so the service will necessarily be a huge affair."

Are fans allowed to attend Liam Payne's funeral?

Queries about whether fans can attend the funeral of Liam Payne have been circulating on social media. The consensus among fans is to respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time and refrain from attending the private ceremony.

A TikTok video has gone viral, with a fan urging others: "Your friendly reminder that if you're thinking of going to Liam Payne's funeral to look at One Direction members-don't! ".

The same fan added in the caption: "I'm begging you all to remember Liam Payne was a human and his family and friends are going through a hard enough time without having to cater to the public," she wrote in the caption. "They deserve to say goodbye to him with grace."

According to Radar Online, the ceremony is expected to feature "a series of song tributes from some very big acts", as a nod to Liam's passion for music. It is reported that his family wishes to incorporate a special musical element into the proceedings.

While the late singer's fans are not invited to the funeral, thousands are expected to line the streets of Wolverhampton as the hearse passes through the city. Following the tragic news, fans of the singer launched a petition calling for legislation to protect the mental health of artists in the entertainment industry.

The petition, initiated on Change.org by a fan of the late father-of-one, aims to "implore lawmakers to create legislation safeguarding the mental health of artists within the industry". To date, over 135,000 individuals have signed the online document, advocating for "Liam's Law".

This law would require "regular mental health check-ups, adequate rest periods and the presence of mental health professionals on-set, including any ongoing support during their career".

Who will attend Liam Payne's funeral?

Liam's One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik are expected to attend Liam's funeral this week, with a whole host of other household names joining the band and Liam's grieving family and friends as they lay the dad-of-one to rest.

Kate Cassidy, Liam's girlfriend at the time of his death, is also thought to be attending. Cheryl Tweedy, mother to Liam's seven-year-old son Bear Payne, will likely be another guest at the private family funeral.

The Girls Aloud singer, 41, is faced having to make a heart-breaking decision over whether to take her young son to his father's funeral.

Liam's famous friends, including James Corden, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Dermot O'Leary and Rita Ora - who recently paid tribute to her late collaborator at the MTV EMAs - are believed to have had close relationships with Liam and are therefore likely to be on the guest list.