Liam Payne’s heartbroken girlfriend Kate Cassidy has arrived at the funeral of the tragic One Direction star she described as “the love of my life”.
Mrs Cassidy was seen arriving at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, ahead of this afternoon’s ceremony, dressed in a long black fur-trimmed coat and sunglasses.
Payne died at age 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.
Cassidy had been with Payne in Argentina before returning to his home in Miami, Florida. He later paid tribute to her and said they had planned to marry.
He stopped today to look at a large floral tribute of five white ten-pin bowls at the church entrance, having previously spoken about how bowling was one of Payne’s favorite sports.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was among mourners arriving at the One Direction pop star’s funeral in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday afternoon.
Ms Cassidy (left) was seen arriving at St Mary’s Church, dressed in a long black coat with fur trim and sunglasses, alongside Damien Hurley.
Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy are pictured here attending the premiere of All Those Voices in London in March last year.
Kate Cassidy posted a tribute to Liam Payne on Instagram after his death last month.
The funeral, which will be held in the home counties, will be attended by his family and close friends.
The pop star’s ex, Cheryl w.I’ll be there too, with his four exes One Direction bandmates were also expected to join the mourners.
Nicola Roberts, 39, Kimberley Walsh, 43, and Damian Hurley, 22, were among the first celebrities seen arriving at the church today.
Harry Styles, 30, also arrived and Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are expected to be in attendance for what is believed to be their first public meeting as a group since last One Direction concert in 2015. .
A church source said a choir and musicians would perform at the service, which will begin at 1 p.m.
One of the floral displays features bowling pins and a ball, a nod to her love of bowling, which Cassidy said she practiced four times a week.
Cassidy, 25, left Argentina two days before the singer fell 45 feet to his death, aged 31, from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
She and Payne had originally flown to Buenos Aires to see her former bandmate Horan’s concert on October 4, but he remained in the country after his girlfriend flew home on October 14.
Kate and Liam began dating in October 2022 and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards that same year.
Payne, pictured in Dubai last year, died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, arrives at the church today for the singer’s funeral alongside Damian Hurley, 22.
Singer Nicola Roberts, 39, hugs a fellow mourner before the funeral this afternoon.
Cheryl Cole, Payne’s ex and mother of his son, will attend the One Direction star’s funeral today. She has been seen earlier this year.
Harry Styles, who was on One DIrection with Liam Payne, was also seen arriving today
After his death, she wrote a touching tribute on Instagram saying: ‘Thank you for all the kind words and love you have sent me.
‘I’ve been completely lost. Nothing about the last few days has seemed real to me. I ask and pray that you give me the grace and space to deal with this privately.’
‘Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know that I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.’
Cassidy and Payne began dating in October 2022 and made their debut on the Fashion Awards red carpet that same year.
The couple then put split rumors to rest by enjoying a date night in London in June last year, and later that year, she supported him when he was rushed to hospital with a “serious kidney infection”.
The location of today’s funeral has been a closely guarded secret, with local residents only realizing it was taking place when “no parking” signs were posted around the church.
Two traffic officers patrolled the area handing out fines to drivers who ignored the signs.
Payne traveled to Argentina in September where he saw his former bandmate Niall Horan perform and also saw his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his visa to live in the United States when the tragedy occurred.
One of the floral displays features bowling pins and a ball, a nod to her love of bowling, something Cassidy said she practiced four times a week.
Kimberley Walsh, 43, was one of the first celebrities to arrive outside the church.
Damian Hurley waits outside with mourners before Payne’s funeral
Payne and Cassidy watching on Center Court at Wimbledon last year
The entrance to the church hosting the service has been decorated with lanterns with candles and white roses arranged among the surrounding bushes.
A source told The Sun: ‘His family have done everything they can to provide the perfect service and give him the send-off he deserves.
“Liam may have been a global superstar, but to Geoff and Karen he will always be their little boy. It’s going to be an incredibly difficult day.”
In a joint statement released after Payne’s death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan and Styles said they were “completely devastated.”
“In time, and when everyone can do it, there will be more to say,” they said.
‘But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we love 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: Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
Payne had been on holiday in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy (left)
Payne rose to fame with the band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates in 2013.
Flowers are being prepared at Home Counties Church ahead of Payne’s funeral.
Flower arrangements outside the entrance to the church where his funeral takes place.
Tributes and flowers are laid outside St Peter’s Collegiate Church to remember former One Direction singer Liam Payne in Wolverhampton.
Tomlinson, Styles and Malik later posted separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was “truly devastated” and “will always miss him.”
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honor to be with him while he did it.
‘Liam lived completely open, with his heart in his hand, he had an energy for life that was contagious.
‘He was warm, understanding and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will always be among the most precious years of my life. I will always miss you, my dear friend.
“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear and all those around the world who knew and loved him, like me.”
Tomlinson said in an emotional tribute that he was “really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye”.