Kate Cassidy says goodbye to 'love of my life': Liam Payne's heartbroken girlfriend who revealed after his death that they had planned to get married joins mourners at funeral
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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'.
Ms Cassidy was seen arriving at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, ahead of this afternoon's ceremony, dressed in a long black coat with fur trim and wearing sunglasses.
Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Ms Cassidy had been with Payne in Argentina before leaving to return to her home in Miami, Florida. She later paid tribute, saying they had planned to marry.
She stopped today to look at a large floral tribute of five white ten pin bowls at the entrance to the church, having previously spoken about how ten pin bowling was one of Payne's favourite sports.
Liam Payne 's girlfriend Kate Cassidy was among the mourners arriving the One Direction popstar'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 wearing sunglasses, alongside Damien Hurley
Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy are pictured here attending the premiere of All Of 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, being held in the Home Counties, will be attended by his family and close friends.
The popstar's ex Cheryl will also be there, with all four of his former One Direction bandmates expected to join mourners too.
Nicola Roberts, 39, Kimberley Walsh, 43, and Damian Hurley, 22, were among the first celebrities to be seen arriving at the church today.
Harry Styles, 30, also arrived and Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are all expected to be present in what is believed to be their first public meeting as a group since One Direction's last concert in 2015.
A church source said a choir and musicians would perform at the service, which is set to begin at 1pm.
One of the floral displays shows bowling pins and a ball - a nod to his love of bowling, which Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week.
Ms Cassidy, 25, left Argentina two days before the singer plunged 45ft to his death, aged 31, from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
She and Payne had originally flew to Buenos Aires to watch his 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 first started dating in October 2022, and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that 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, arriving at the church for the singer's funeral today alongside Damian Hurley, 22
Singer Nicola Roberts, 39, hugs a fellow mourner before the funeral this afternoon
Cheryl Cole, Payne ex and mother of his son, will be attending the One Direction star's funeral today. She's seen earlier this year
Harry Styles, who was in One DIrection with Liam Payne, was also seen arriving today
Following his death, she wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram saying: 'Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way.
'I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you'll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.'
'Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.'
Ms Cassidy and Payne first started dating in October 2022, and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year.
The pair then put an end to split rumours by enjoying a date 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, and local residents only realised it was taking place when 'no parking' signs were erected around the church.
Two traffic enforcement officers patrolled the area handing out tickets to any drivers ignoring the signs.
Payne travelled to Argentina in September where he watched 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 US when the tragedy occurred.
One of the floral displays shows bowling pins and a ball - a nod to his love of bowling, with Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week
Kimberley Walsh, 43, was among the first celebrities to arrive outside the church
Damian Hurley waits outside with mourners before Payne's funeral
Payne and Ms Cassidy watching on Centre Court at Wimbledon last year
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.
In a joint statement released following Payne's death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan, and Styles said they were 'completely devastated.'
'In time, and when everyone is able to, 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, who we loved 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.'
Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was 'truly devastated' and will 'miss him always'.
Payne had been on holiday in South America with girlfriend Kate Cassidy (left)
Payne rose to fame with band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates in 2013
Flowers being prepared at the church in the Home Counties ahead of Payne's funeral
Flower arrangers outside the entrance of the church where his funeral is taking place
Tributes and flowers are placed outside St. Peter's collegiate church to remember former One Direction singer Liam Payne, in Wolverhampton
'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'.
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.
Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne's son Bear if he 'ever needs me' and 'tell him stories of how amazing his dad was'.
