Liam Payne’s funeral is set to take place in a location that’s ‘close to his heart’ as his body is set to return home.
The X Factor star and boyband icon died when he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, almost three weeks ago at the age of 31.
As authorities have been investigating the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death, his family has now been given an update on when they can lay him to rest.
The singer’s body will return home from South America by Monday ‘at the latest’ and his funeral is expected to take place in the days after.
A close friend of the former One Direction star told MailOnline. : ‘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.’
The unnamed source added that the funeral will be planned once Liam’s body has returned from Argentina, which should be relatively soon.
‘Liam’s body is expected to be flown home any day now,’ a close friend added.
‘Arrangements are in place for that now and once his body is back in Britain the next step will be to announce the funeral plan.’
Liam grew up in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands and moved down south as an adult.
In 2021 he purchased a house in a small Buckinghamshire village called Chalfont St Giles.
It’s thought he chose the location because it’s close to the neighbouring village Chalfont St Peter where his ex Cheryl lives, with whom he co-parented their son Bear.
Liam’s father Geoff Payne is still in Argentina, waiting to bring his son’s body home.
The mourning father has joined fans at vigils across Argentina and on Tuesday visited a new shrine to grieve with fans.
He read goodwill messages and looked at floral tributes left by a tree outside Hotel CasaSur Palermo, and left a red rose.
Argentinian media has predicted that Liam’s body will fly home on Thursday or possibly Friday, but this has yet to be fully confirmed.