The globe is in mourning after the heart-breaking news of former One Direction star Liam Payne’s tragic death, with grief-stricken fans across the world sharing their cherished memories of the late pop icon.
Devastated supporters have been reminiscing about Liam’s vibrant life and influence in the music scene, following his untimely death at just 31 years old on Wednesday October 16.
The celebrated singer lost his life in a harrowing fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he had been vacationing with his partner.
Yet amidst the sorrow and tributes that have flooded social media, fans and admirers have also illuminated Liam’s legacy with touching anecdotes that celebrate the times he lived under the limelight.
Some of these fond recollections spotlight moments when Liam, along with his One Direction colleagues, encountered British royalty during their illustrious career.
One particularly noteworthy memory took fans back to November 13, 2014, at the Royal Variety Performance where Liam and the rest of One Direction met Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The Duchess, who was expecting Princess Charlotte at the time, seemed to charm the young musicians.
Notably, Harry Styles, one of Liam’s bandmates, congratulated Kate, jokingly adding, “congratulations on the bump … [though] she didn’t look bumpy,” an anecdote highlighted by Newsweek, reports the Mirror.
In another Royal encounter during 2015, One Direction got to meet Prince Harry on a remarkable day – the same date that their final album ‘Made in the A. M.’ hit the shelves, once again on November 13, establishing an interconnected legacy between pop royalty and the real monarchy.
According to PEOPLE, Prince Harry shared a light-hearted moment with pop sensation Harry Styles, teasing him with the question, “When was the last time you had a hair cut? ” Styles responded with a promise to eventually chop his locks for a good cause, saying, “at some point I’ll be cutting it [his hair] for charity.”
The candid interaction was caught on camera, showing Liam Payne grinning and attentively tuning into the banter, seemingly at ease and not the least bit daunted by his Royal encounter.
However, Liam’s composure wasn’t quite as steady when he met the late Queen Elizabeth at a Buckingham Palace reception in 2017. The event celebrated young leaders making an impact in their communities, and although he had previously met Prince Harry, it was the Queen who truly captivated him this time.
Liam, attending solo without his One Direction bandmates, later expressed his awe on social media: “An absolute honour to meet the Queen today on such a fantastic occasion.
“Privileged to share the room with such inspirational @queensyoungleaders, hear their stories and how they are helping to rebuild and preserve a sometimes broken world,” he posted.
In 2018, Liam found himself in the presence of royalty once more, meeting the Queen during the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 12.
Following her majesty’s death in September 2022, Liam was deeply moved, and paid a heartfelt tribute to the late monarch three months after her passing. He shared a 4ft oil painting that he had spent over 50 hours creating, as reported by the Independent.
Tragically, Payne lost his life on Wednesday afternoon after falling several stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Before emergency services arrived, the hotel receptionist reportedly dialled 911 due to concerns about the singer’s erratic behaviour and suspicions of drug or alcohol influence. The receptionist urgently requested help, fearing he might pose a danger to himself.
Sadly, he was declared dead at the scene after plummeting from his hotel room balcony. A preliminary autopsy conducted on Thursday, October 17, revealed that he died from multiple injuries and “internal and external” haemorrhages caused by the fall.
The prosecutor’s office dealing with the case has stated that a toxicology report is still pending.
