Liam Payne‘s funeral arrangements are nearing completion – his body is expected to be repatriated soon and a large-scale service will be announced shortly, MailOnline has learned.
Investigators probing his “unexplained” death in Buenos Aires are expected to hand Liam’s body to his heartbroken father Geoff this week, and British consulate officials are planning a repatriation.
After the 31-year-old star’s body is returned to the UK from the Argentine capital, the announcement of a funeral which will be attended by hundreds of mourners is expected to follow.
A close friend of the former One Direction star told MailOnline: “Liam’s body is expected to be brought home at any time.” ‘Arrangements have already been made and funeral plans will be announced at the next stage after his body is returned to Britain.
A funeral is expected to be held a few days after the repatriation.
A close friend told MailOnline: ‘Liam will have a big send-off, probably in a big cathedral somewhere close to his heart.
Pop star Liam Payne died last month after falling from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires (pictured).
Payne was on holiday in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy (pictured left) when the tragic fall occurred.
Liam Payne’s last Snapchat post before dying from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires
Payne said he was “happy to have some time” less than an hour before his death.
Liam Payne in the lobby of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires minutes before his death
Liam Payne shakes hands with a woman in the lobby of a Buenos Aires hotel minutes before his death
Fans mourn the loss of Liam Payne at a memorial in Washington Square Park with flowers, candles, photographs and handwritten notes.
“Liam was so loved by so many people that obviously there will be a huge demand and therefore the service will necessarily be a big business.”
“The details are still under wraps until they are finally signed, but they should be announced very soon.”
Thousands of well-wishers are expected to gather outside the venue to celebrate the life of the much-loved star.
The former One Direction singer died last month after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Two days after his death, Liam’s body was moved to the British Cemetery in the Argentine capital while an investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding his death.
An autopsy after his death determined that the cause was the 31-year-old man.
He died from head injuries on October 16.
Argentine media claim that the necessary procedures have been completed to allow the singer’s body to return home.
Liam Payne fans light candles next to the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires
Forensic police arrive at the hotel where Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires
A source close to the family said: “Liam was loved by a lot of people, there will obviously be huge demand and so the service will definitely be a big business.”
Change.org petition for a permanent memorial in Wolverhampton to the late Liam Payne
Flowers, photographs and candles are displayed in honor of Liam Payne during a memorial service at Plaza de Santa Ana on October 20, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Argentine media claim that the necessary procedures have been completed to allow the singer’s body to return home.
Liam Payne fans gather to pay their respects at Monterey’s Macroplaza Esplanade on October 2.
The former One Direction singer died last month after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Liam rose to fame with the band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates (left-right) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
Nicole Scherzinger was among celebrities who paid tribute to the star, texting Liam Payne hours before his death after becoming his ‘mentor’.
Touching floral tributes were left outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina’s capital following the death of the former One Direction star.
Investigators initially warned Geoff Payne upon arrival in Buenos Aires that it would take up to 15 days to complete all of his tests.
Last week, local police raided the Casa Sur hotel where the collapse occurred after following up on allegations that staff had sold drugs to Liam in the hours before his death.
Prosecutors have since explored the theory that Liam was in a “semi- or completely unconscious state” during an apparently drug-fueled episode on the morning of his death.
Liam was in Argentina with his long-term girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and the influencer shared a touching tribute online to his lover that they plan to get married next year.
Kate left the couple’s vacation to return to the United States two days before Liam’s death.
