Liam Payne funeral - what One Direction fans can expect at star's send off
by Jamie Barlow, Zoe Delaney · NottinghamshireLiveLiam Payne's body was flown back to England last week, and his funeral is expected to take place in the coming days. The former One Direction star, aged 31, died in Argentina last month after a fall from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, leading to three individuals being charged in connection with the incident.
Liam, who shot to fame on The X Factor as a young man, suffered "serious injuries that were incompatible with life", and an investigation into his death is still underway. Following the release of Liam's body to his devastated family last week, the arrests of three suspects now under formal investigation were confirmed by officials.
The flight returning Liam to his homeland became the most-tracked flight ever, as millions of fans worldwide continue to grieve the loss of the beloved father.
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Where will Liam's funeral be held?
Questions are arising about where Liam's funeral will be held. Geoff Payne, Liam's father, immediately travelled to Argentina after hearing of his son's passing and stayed until Liam's body was permitted to be repatriated.
The bereaved father arrived at London Heathrow at 7.49 am on Thursday, with his flight receiving attention from countless fans. The vast number of people following the flight made it the most tracked plane globally, reports the Mirror.
In Wolverhampton, mourning fans have begun leaving tributes outside St. Peter's Collegiate Church.
In recent days, One Direction followers have been placing flowers and poignant handwritten messages near the Lady Wulfrun statue, paying their respects to the late singer.
While specifics have yet to be disclosed, it is understood that Liam's funeral will take place in his hometown of Wolverhampton this week. The ceremony for the singer is expected at either St.
Peter's or St Paul's Church in Pendeford, in proximity to where Liam grew up.
A source close to the family shared with 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 Liam Payne's funeral have been circulating online. Pleas have spread across social media imploring followers to respect the family's privacy and refrain from attending the private funeral meant for friends and family to mourn peacefully.
A TikTok video has gone viral showing a fan imploring others, stating: "Your friendly reminder that if you're thinking of going to Liam Payne's funeral to look at One Direction members-don't!"
In the caption of her post, she implored: "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." Adding: "They deserve to say goodbye to him with grace."
Sources have spoken to Radar Online revealing plans to pay homage to Liam's musical legacy with a "series of song tributes from some very big acts", echoing the musical passions of the singer. His family wishes to introduce a unique musical component within the service.
Whereas fans of the late singer are not invited to attend the funeral, a large number are expected to gather along the streets of Wolverhampton as the hearse passes through the city. After the sorrowful announcement, the singer's followers began a petition demanding legislation to protect the mental wellbeing of entertainers.
Launched on Change.org by an admirer of the father-of-one, the petition calls for lawmakers to "implore lawmakers to create legislation safeguarding the mental health of artists within the industry". As things stand, the online appeal has attracted signatures from upwards of 135,000 people, lending support to what is being called "Liam's Law".
This proposed law seeks to institute "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 be present at Liam Payne's funeral?
It is anticipated that his former One Direction bandmates—Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik—will be in attendance this week. They will join a myriad of famed individuals, along with Liam's bereaved family and friends, in bidding farewell to the dad-of-one.
Kate Cassidy, who was Liam's partner at the time of his passing, is also expected to be among the attendees. Cheryl Tweedy, who shares seven-year-old Bear Payne with Liam, is likely to be seen at the private event.
At 41, the Girls Aloud star is confronted with the heart-wrenching choice of whether to bring her young son to his father's funeral.
It's expected that Liam's famous friends, including James Corden, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Dermot O'Leary and Rita Ora - who recently honoured her late collaborator at the MTV EMAs - will be on the guest list due to their close relationships with him.