Liam Payne’s funeral is expected to take place in his native Wolverhampton very soon, with the One Direction star’s final send off anticipated to be a huge affair

Following his body being flown home to England last week, Liam Payne’s funeral is expected to take place in the coming days.

The late One Direction singer, 31, died in Argentina last month following a fall from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with three people now charged in connection. 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.

The arrests of three suspects, now under formal investigation, were confirmed by officials shortly after Liam’s body was released to his heartbroken family last week. The flight carrying Liam home became the most-tracked flight of all time as millions of fans across the globe continue to mourn the late dad-of-one.

Where will Liam’s funeral be held?

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 morning, his flight being monitored by countless fans.

The sheer number of those tracking the aircraft turned it into the most tracked plane in the world. Mourning fans have started to pay their tributes outside St. Peter’s Collegiate Church in central Wolverhampton. Over recent days, One Direction fans have started to pay their tributes outside the church, with flowers and heartfelt handwritten notes adorn the area beside the Lady Wulfrun statue.

Fans are still leaving tributes to the late singer across the world ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Although details are still under wraps, it is believed that Liam’s funeral will take place in his native Wolverhampton this week. 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.”

Are fans allowed to attend Liam Payne’s 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”.

Who will attend Liam Payne’s funeral?

Liam’s One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik are expected to attend Liam’s funeral this week, 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.