Cheryl smoothed over tensions between One Direction after Liam Payne's funeral

Cheryl reportedly played peacemaker among the One Direction members at Liam Payne's funeral, according to recent reports. The singer, who was romantically involved with Liam from 2016 to 2018 and is the mother of his son, was accompanied by her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh at the private service on Wednesday.

Zayn Malik and the rest of the One Direction crew set aside their differences to attend the funeral, marking the first time they've reunited in nearly a decade. The last time they were all together was when they rallied around Louis as he performed just days after his mother's death - another "absolutely tragic" event.

Since then, there have been reported tensions among the group, so Cheryl, aged 41, who has been a significant support to Liam's parents, Geoff and Karen, and sisters, Nicola and Ruth, as they begin to grapple with the heartbreaking loss of Liam, was there to help the former bandmates on Wednesday, it's claimed. Following the wake, Cheryl is believed to have invited Liam's family and friends, including the One Direction members, into a round marquee in the back garden of Liam's mansion near Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, reports the Mirror.

It appears that Cheryl helped to ease any tensions here, hours after Liam was laid to rest. An insider shared: "Of course, they all wanted to be there, they shared so much with Liam. But that doesn't mean they are best friends any more. They haven't worked together for almost ten years – they have grown apart. In fact, the last time they all met up, it was because Simon Cowell insisted they did after Louis's mum died, and that was eight years ago."

The Daily Mail reports that the boys have "drifted apart" over the ensuing years. Yet at a marquee ceremony commemorating Liam's life on Wednesday, attendants raised glasses in his memory while embracing each other, the paper details.

It is said that life-sized dinosaur models, one grey and the other green, were present in the marquee, as father and son had developed a bond through them—a decade-old online purchase by Liam, which Cheryl connected with hope and cherished remembrances.

Louis and Zayn, who hail from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands along with Liam, were supposedly closest to him, conveyed a source to the Mail: "Louis and Zayn were such a support to Liam in the last few years. They are distraught."

Reflecting the sentiments of the group, "Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry" released a joint statement the following day after Liam's demise on October 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Despite the hurdles faced over the past years, the collective expressed: "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say."

"But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured for ever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam."