Liam Payne’s funeral is expected to take place in the coming days in Wolverhampton, following the One Direction star’s tragic death in Argentina last month

Floral tributes to singer Liam Payne which have been moved by authorities to West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton (Image: PA)

The funeral of former One Direction star Liam Payne is set to take place in the coming days. The 31year-old tragically died last month after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina, and three individuals have since been charged in connection with his death.

Payne, who rose 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. Officials confirmed the arrests of three suspects shortly after Payne’s body was released to his heartbroken family last week.

The flight bringing Payne home became the most-tracked flight of all time, as millions of fans worldwide continue to mourn the late father-of-one. Here’s everything you need to know about the funeral.

Where will Payne’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 grieving father landed at London Heathrow at 7:49am on Thursday morning, with his flight being closely monitored by numerous fans, reports Mirror.

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.

One Direction aficionados have been assembling tributes outside the church, laying flowers and leaving poignant handwritten notes by the Lady Wulfrun statue, honouring Liam Payne who hailed from Wolverhampton. Whilst details of Payne’s funeral remain undisclosed, there is talk that the service could be conducted this week at either St. Peter’s or St Paul’s Church in Pendeford, close to where he grew up.

An insider had previously informed 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?

Enquiries on social media regarding whether fans can attend Liam Payne’s funeral have been abundant. Yet, a general agreement seems to have emerged amongst fans to respect the family’s privacy during these trying times and avoid attending the private service.

A particular TikTok post asking fans to refrain has become widespread, with one fan pleading: “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 stressed in their video 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,” continuing with, “They deserve to say goodbye to him with grace.”

According to Radar Online, the ceremony for Liam Payne is set to include “a series of song tributes from some very big acts”, in homage to his love for music. His family is keen to add a special musical touch to the service.

While fans won’t be able to attend the funeral itself, many are expected to gather along the streets of Wolverhampton to pay their respects as the hearse travels through the city. Following his untimely death, supporters have started a petition for legislation to better protect entertainers’ mental health.

Launched on Change.org by an admirer of the father-of-one, the campaign calls for “Liam’s Law”, which has already garnered over 135,000 signatures. This proposed law would mandate “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?

As for who will be present at Liam Payne’s funeral, his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik are among those expected to join a host of other celebrities, alongside Liam’s bereaved family and friends, to bid farewell to the dad-of-one.

Kate Cassidy, who was Liam’s girlfriend at the time of his passing, is expected to be in attendance. Cheryl Tweedy, mother to Liam’s seven-year-old son Bear Payne, is also likely to attend the private family funeral.

The 41-year-old Girls Aloud singer now faces the difficult decision of whether to bring her young son to his father’s funeral. Liam’s celebrity friends, including James Corden, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Dermot O’Leary and Rita Ora – who recently honoured her late collaborator at the MTV EMAs – are believed to have been close to Liam and are therefore expected to be on the guest list.