Liam Payne’s family reveal how they spent singer’s first birthday since his death

Liam Payne‘s family marked the star’s first birthday since his death with a trip to his favourite spot.

Payne died aged 31 in October after falling from the third-floor balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel room, leaving friends, family and fans all over the world devastated.

The One Direction singer’s sister posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late brother on what would have been his 32nd birthday on Friday.

In a grid post, Nicola added a heartbreaking message as she reflected that ‘a year ago today, we were so full of hope and excitement for what the years ahead would bring you.’

‘That night, celebrating your birthday with bowling and McDonald’s, we celebrated you, your show, your dreams, and spoke of all the plans you had for the future.’

‘We ended the evening with a hug, telling you how proud we were and how much we loved you. If I had known that would be the last time I’d see you, I would have said so much more.’

‘I wish I could step into a time machine and relive that night and hug you tighter, capture your smile and voice, ask more questions, and write it all down so I’d never forget.’

‘I hope you’re happy, at peace, and know how deeply you are loved. I miss you every single day, and I don’t think there will ever be a day that I don’t.

‘So today, on your birthday, I want to wish you the happiest heavenly birthday. Wherever you are, I hope you’re celebrating and hopefully you’ve scored a few strikes too. Love you always.’

The post comes after Liam and Nicola’s other sister, Ruth Gibbins, shared a devastating essay in April about losing her little brother.

‘6 months, half a year without you?!’ she began in the heartbreaking Instagram post.

‘My head is still screaming for you. Each morning on waking, I feel like I am plunged underwater, gasping for air that never comes to relieve me.

‘Living without you is impossible, so for now, I exist. I’m learning to laugh or smile in the right places, but mate, it’s exhausting when all I want to do is speak to you.

‘In the few moments I allow myself to feel love and not just loss, I can really smile at memories of us, like last year when we were doubled over laughing at us trying to make something we’d seen on YouTube, but memories are always tinged with sadness at how unfair it is we can’t make new ones.

‘I can sometimes hear you laughing at me walking around like Whoopi Goldberg in “ghost”, looking for you everywhere I am. I see you though, you’re always coming through in different ways to put me back on the right path.

‘I can’t process what’s happened and the finality of it, you know I will never stop doing all I can for you.

‘I miss you loudly, quietly, and in all the moments in between.

‘Love you so much more than these words or my tears are capable of expressing but I know you know this.

‘For now, I’ll meet you in my dreams.’

Liam’s sisters aren’t the only loved ones paying tribute to the late singer in recent months, with Payne’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Kate, 26, also posting an emotional message on his birthday.

Kate, who Payne had planned to marry, opened up on the heartbreaking day with a promise to the What Makes You Beautiful hitmaker.

‘My dearest Liam, it breaks my heart being that I can’t hand you a physical birthday card today. That I can’t hear your laugh, or tell you all the things I wish I’d said a thousand more times,’ she began in an Instagram post, alongside a number of photos.

She continued: ‘I’ve been struggling to find the right words, but I’ll start with the most obvious, happy birthday.

‘Today, you would have been 32. In your 31 years here on this earth you brought so much joy, happiness and hope to so many- especially to me.

‘I hope you know how brightly you still shine, even from up there. I would give up years of my life just to give you a few more. I miss making memories with you. I miss having things to look forward to together.But today, my birthday gift to you is my strength.’ 

She then made a heartbreaking vow: ‘I promise you I will celebrate you extra today, honor your life, and cherish the beautiful times we’ve had. August 29th will be a date that sits in my heart for the rest of my life. I love you so much.’ 

Liam’s funeral took place on November 20, surrounded by his loved ones, including his former bandmates and ex-girlfriend, Cheryl, with whom he shares eight-year-old son Bear.

Since his death, Payne’s girlfriend, Kate, has been sharing her grieving process with fans, regularly sharing pictures of him on her Instagram page. His sisters have also consistently posted about their grief over losing their brother.

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