Harry Styles’ hug for Kimberley Walsh at Liam Payne’s funeral: Mourning One Direction star embraces Girls Aloud singer at personal service for his tragic bandmate
Harry Styles embraced Kimberley Walsh as they bid an emotional farewell to his former bandmate Liam Payne following his tragic death aged just 31.
The Girls Aloud Star was among the first to arrive at the service on Wednesday as she rallied around fellow singer Cheryl, who is the mother of Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear.
Styles was also seen hugging Nicola Roberts and several other stars, who joined Kimberley at the private funeral service in the Home Counties yesterday.
The heartfelt embraces took place just outside the church as mourners gathered to pay their final respects to Payne who died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina last month.
Styles, 30, previously said he was ‘completely devastated’ by the sudden loss of his One Direction bandmate.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,’ he wrote.
‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
Harry Styles hugs Kimberley Walsh during the funeral for singer Liam Payne
Harry Styles hugs Nicola Roberts during the funeral for singer Liam Payne on November 20
Harry Styles embraces mourners outside the church following a service for Liam Payne on Wednesday
Styles was joined at the funeral by Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, in what is thought to be their first time together as a group since 2015.
A horse-drawn carriage carried Payne’s dark blue coffin with silver handles, which was topped with white roses, to the service at the church in the Home Counties.
A red floral tribute which read ‘son’ and a blue tribute which said ‘daddy’ were also on the funeral carriage. Following the service, his coffin was carried to a black Jaguar hearse.
Capital radio DJs Chris Stark, Jordan North and Sian Welby all paid tribute, as well as new BBC Radio 2 breakfast host Scott Mills, former professional footballer Robbie Keane and broadcaster Adrian Chiles.
Simon Cowell, who formed the group On Direction on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2010, was also at the heartbreaking service.
He was pictured hugging Liam’s parents Geoff and Karen as they sought to comfort him outside the church.
Prior to the funeral starting, dozens of locals and fans gathered to pay their final respects to Payne, who died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Fans around the world held vigils in his memory following his death, while a shrine to the late star was created in his hometown of Wolverhampton.
He died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ after falling from a hotel third-floor balcony, a post-mortem examination report said.
Following Payne’s death, his One Direction bandmates said they were ‘completely devastated’ and will miss the singer ‘terribly’.
In a joint statement, they said they would say more in time but were going to take some time to ‘grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly’.
Styles pictured leaving the church following the private funeral service in the Home Counties
A hug from Harry Stiles as he leaves Liam Payne’s funeral on November 20
Harry Styles attends the funeral for singer Liam Payne, former member of One Direction
Harry Styles and James Corden attend the funeral for singer Liam Payne
The service has not been opened to the public, with only family and friends in attendance
‘The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever’, they added.
Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’
Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.
The hearse was pulled through the streets by two white horses with plumes of feathers
Rochelle Humes was accompanied by her husband Marvin at the funeral service
A floral tribute reading ‘Daddy’. Payne shared a seven-year-old son with his ex girlfriend, Cheryl Tweedy
The singer got out of a black car before making his way towards the church
A small crowd of local people gathered outside the church as mourners, including Styles, walked in
Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles arrives at his funeral
Payne’s coffin draws up outside the flint-napped church on a bright but cold day in the Home Counties
Flower arrangers outside the entrance of the church where his funeral is taking place
Niall Horan and his girlfriend Amelia Woolley were dropped off by a black Range Rover and went straight into the church
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
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.
Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.
In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.
‘And I can’t explain you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.
‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’
