Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy met his parents for the first time at his funeral on Wednesday afternoon.
The TikTok star, 25, who had been in a relationship with the late singer, 31, since 2022, arrived at Liam's funeral service at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with the support of her friend Damian Hurley.
Wearing dark sunglasses, a fur-lined coat and appearing to hold back tears , Kate, who said that her heart was "shattered" after Liam's death, came face to face with her late boyfriend's parents Geoff and Karen Payne for the first time.
Instead of a meeting filled with excited hugs and Kate, Geoff and Karen gushing over their mutual love for Liam, they were faced with the devastating reality of laying the singer to rest. It came one month after he tragically fell from his hotel balcony and died in Buenos Aires on October 16.
Kate was also in the company of Liam's ex-girlfriend Cheryl Tweedy, the mother of his seven-year-old son Bear. Cheryl is understood to have helped his family plan the private service attended by those closest to him. Danielle Peazer, who dated Liam between 2010 and 2013, also attended his funeral.
Taking to Instagram following his death, Kate shared her heartbreak with fans, telling them she had "lost the best part of myself" and posted a note written by Liam in which he had written he wanted to "marry" Kate in the next year.
"I don't even know where to begin. My heart is shattered in ways I can't put into words. I wish you could see the huge impact you've had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now. You brought so much happiness and positivity to everyone – millions of fans, your family, friends, and especially me.
"You are so incredibly loved. You are – because I can't say you were – my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did. Your energy was contagious, lighting up every room you walked into.
"None of this feels real, and I can't wrap my head around this new reality of not having you here. I'm struggling to figure out how to live in a world without you by my side. Together, we got to be kids again, always finding joy in the smallest things.
"Liam, you had the kindest soul and the most fun-loving spirit. It feels like I've lost the best part of myself. I can't imagine a day without your laughter and love. You brought so much light into my life."
Kate flew with Liam to Buenos Aires in October. However, she was not with him at the time of his death, as she had flown home to Miami just four days before he died. She told fans in a TikTok then that she didn't like being away from home for too long and felt she was ready to get back into her own routine.
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Liam's death is ongoing after three people were charged in connection to his fall from a hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires. The X Factor star sustained "serious injuries that were incompatible with life", an autopsy found.
Follo w Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .