Liam Payne funeral latest updates: Celebrity mourners gather to pay their respects to One Direction star after his death aged 31

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy was among the first to arrive at the church today.

Wrapped up against the cold in a long black coat with fur trim, she made her way into the building with Damian Hurley.

Cassidy had been with Payne in Argentina before leaving to return to her home in Miami, Florida. Read MailOnline’s full story here:

Liam Payne’s coffin has now been taken into the church as the funeral begins:

Liam Payne’s parents Geoff and Karen were greeted by the reverend as they arrived and stood with the pall bearers waiting to convey the white rose bedecked coffin to the church.

Two horses with white plumes stood while the coffin was gently unloaded by the pall bearers.

Just after 1pm, the rector of the church came to the side door as the coffin arrived for the service.

A horse-drawn white carriage with wreaths showing ‘Daddy’ in blue and ‘Son’ in red were on either side of the hearse.

Simon Cowell has now arrived at the church along with partner Lauren Silverman:

Nearby roads were closed off for the fleet of Mercedes people carriers with blacked-out windows to be able to park outside the church and allow the mourners to get out.

A private security team was hired to ensure the event went off without a hitch, but no crowds of 1D fans were evident.

Local residents watching the cortege said they were moved by the event. ‘It’s very sad,’ said one man in his 60s.

Scott Mills, who was yesterday announced as the new host of BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show from January, has also arrived at the church:

Radio DJ and television presenter Jordan North (centre) has also now been seen arriving along with Chris Stark (left) and Sian Welby (right):

Former One Direction band member Niall Horan has also now arrived for the funeral service – which means all four bandmates are now at the church.

Louis Tomlinson, another of Payne’s former One Direction bandmate, is now at the church:

Another former One Direction bandmate, Zayn Malik, has now arrived.

Adrian Chiles has arrived at the church – wearing his customary West Bromwich Albion jacket.

Payne was a Baggies fan, and Chiles previously said he got to known him when he first did X Factor.

Also in attendance is former footballer Robbie Keane, who played football together at Soccer Aid in 2022.

Gavin and Stacey star James Corden, who previously paid tribute to ‘kind soul’ Liam Payne, has arrived at the church this afternoon.

Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles has now arrived:

TV presenter and singer Rochelle Humes, formerly of S Club Juniors and The Saturdays, has now arrived along with her husband Marvin Humes – who appeared on X Factor with JLS:

Liam Payne’s friend and singer Jamie Scott has now arrived for the funeral.

Scott was a long-term friend and collaborator of Payne and described them as ‘brothers’ in a tribute released last month.

Fans from across the globe have continued to hold vigils in memory of Payne following his death last month.

Here are some floral tributes at a memorial in West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton, pictured today:

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has been photographed arriving at the church, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses.

She was accompanied by Damian Hurley, the model and son of Elizabeth Hurley.

Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh will also be supporting her bandmate Cheryl at the funeral today – here are some more photos are her arriving:

Nicola Roberts, a member of Girls Aloud, was among the first mourners to arrive.

She was greeted with a kiss by Simon Jones, the former PR for One Direction who now acts for Cheryl.

Other mourners greeted her as they stood at the entrance to the church waiting for the doors to open.

Girls Aloud singers Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have now arrived at the church, ahead of the funeral.

Payne was in a relationship with their bandmate Cheryl, from 2016 until 2018.

A moving floral display of bowling pins and a ball has now been set up outside the church ahead of Liam Payne’s funeral – reflecting the late singer’s love of bowling.

Security guards have been photographed standing in the doorway of the church this morning ahead of the funeral for Liam Payne:

Among the first arrivals at the church in the Home Counties this morning was Simon Jones, who worked closely with Payne amid his rise to fame.

Mr Jones is the co-founder of Hackford Jones (HJPR), the PR agency behind One Direction which he set up in 2003 before it was closed in 2016.

A series of vehicles continued to arrive at the front and back entrances to Liam Payne’s six-bedroom property throughout this morning.

They included a delivery by upmarket florist Flowers by Passion. Mercedes people carriers with blacked out windows also arrived as teams of security guards stood by.

A church source told MailOnline that a choir and musicians will perform at the service which is expected to begin at 1pm.

Half a dozen members of a private security team began taking up positions in the grounds of the church while a lone guard all in black stood in the entrance.

Contractors have erected a white gazebo at the entrance to the church in the Home Counties where mourners are expected to enter for the funeral later.

Metal barriers were placed across the road from the church and the gazebo to accommodate the dozens of media covering the service.

Two women swept leaves from around a side entrance where floral displays six candles in glass holders had been placed, as temperatures hovered above freezing.

Local residents only realised Payne’s funeral was taking place when ‘no parking’ signs were erected outside, with two traffic enforcement officers patrolling the area.

Liam Payne’s heartbroken family were making last minute arrangements this morning as they prepared to pay an emotional farewell to the singer.

Shortly after 10am a large white van arrived at the One Direction star’s six-bedroom property which he bought for £3.25million in November 2021.

A woman in a long black coat and a security guard stood by before 8ft electric iron gates were opened at the house to allow the 7.5-tonne vehicle access.

Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

He died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’, a post-mortem examination report said.

An investigation has been launched into his death by prosecutors, and three people have been charged in connection with the incident.

Payne’s heartbroken father Geoff brought his remains back to Britain two weeks ago, after extensive examinations from the Argentinian authorities into his death.

Payne rose to fame alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan when Simon Cowell put them together to form One Direction on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2010.

He had first auditioned in 2008 when he was 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, with judge Cowell telling him to return to the talent show two years later.

In 2010 he impressed the judges with a rendition of Michael Buble’s version of Cry Me A River before being put with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition – the group which later became One Direction.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, went on to launch a successful solo career, releasing his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

The entrance of the church which is hosting the service has been decorated with candle lanterns and white roses that have been arranged in surrounding shrubbery:

Ahead of Liam Payne’s funeral taking place today, beautiful flowers were arranged outside the entrance to the church where the service is being held as final preparations were completed. Read the full story on MailOnline:

The funeral of One Direction singer Liam Payne will be held today, with his former bandmates expected to be among the guests attending.

Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

The funeral, being held in the Home Counties, will also be attended by Payne’s family and friends, with girlfriend Kate Cassidy also expected to be there.

Stay with us throughout today for all the latest updates.