Liam Payne funeral updates: Details confirmed as star to be laid to rest in home counties

One Direction singer Liam Payne's friends and family will come together to grieve the 31-year-old after he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires

Liam Payne will be laid to rest today in Wolverhampton, a month after his tragic death in Argentina.

The One Direction singer's friends and family will come together to grieve the 31-year-old after he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Three people have since been charged in connection with his death. Liam, who rose to stardom as a youngster on The X Factor, sustained "serious injuries that were incompatible with life", with an inquiry into his death still ongoing.

Geoff Payne, Liam's father, flew out to Argentina upon learning of his son's death and remained in the country until Liam's body was cleared to fly home. The grieving father touched down at London Heathrow at 7:49 am on Thursday November 7, his flight being monitored by countless fans.

07:01Susan Knox

Liam Payne's funeral will see One Direction reunite for first time in nine years

Singer Liam Payne's funeral will take place in the Home Counties today with his One Direction bandmates amongst the mourners.

The One Direction star was only 31 when he fatally fell from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina on October 16. On November 6, officials in Buenos Aires, allowed the family to fly his body home.

The One Direction bandmates of the late star are included within the list of attendees; Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. Liam's girlfriend Kate Cassidy is also expected to attend along with Simon Cowell.

In a joint statement last month, One Direction said: "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. 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. 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."

Read the full story, here.

06:52Susan Knox

One Direction unite as Zayn Malik changes tour dates to attend Liam funeral

One Direction stars are set to say their final farewell to bandmate Liam Payne following his tragic death last month.

Zayn Malik decided to cancel his UK that was due to start this week so that he can attend the funeral. The former One Direction star announced to his fans last week that he was rescheduling two of his Edinburgh shows due to "unforeseen circumstances." He informed fans that his November 20 show has now been changed to December 8 and another show of his Stairway To The Sky tour show on November 21, has been rescheduled to December 9.

Zayn had previously postponed the American leg of his tour following the devastating loss of his former bandmate Liam. It has been confirmed Liam's funeral will take place tomorrow (November 20). Liam tragically died last month aged 31 after he fell from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina.

Among the attendees at Liam's private funeral are his former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn as well as his girlfriend Kate Cassidy along with Simon Cowell. The star's father Geoff flew to Argentina following the tragic news and returned to the UK along with the singer's body, which was then reportedly taken to his hometown of Wolverhampton.

Read the full story, here.

11:06Rose Hill

Who will attend the funeral?

Liam's One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik are expected to attend Liam's funeral, 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 heartbreaking decision over whether to take her young son to his father's funeral.

Liam's celebrity pals, such as James Corden, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Dermot O'Leary and Rita Ora - who paid tribute to her late collaborator at the MTV EMAs over the weekend - are thought to have enjoyed close friendships with Liam and will therefore likely be invited.

11:05Rose Hill

Can fans attend the funeral?

Fans across social media platforms are urging others to respect the family's privacy and not attend the funeral. It is believed that the funeral will be private, allowing his friends and family the necessary time to grieve their loss. One viral TikTok shows a fan pleading with others: "Your friendly reminder that if you’re thinking of going to Liam Payne’s funeral to look at One Direction members—don’t!”

"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." The ceremony is expected to include a "series of song tributes from some very big acts", as a tribute to his love for music, a source told Radar Online. His family reportedly wants to incorporate a special musical element into the ceremony.

While fans of the late singer 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".

11:04Rose Hill

Where will Liam's funeral take place?

Although details are still under wraps, it is believed that Liam's funeral will take place in his native Wolverhampton. The singer's final send off is expected to be held at either St. Peter's or St Paul's Church, Pendeford, which is closer to Liam's childhood home.

An insider previously revealed to 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."