On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of fans gathered in Hyde Park to pay tribute to Liam Payne, 31, a former member of One Direction, who tragically fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last week.

Mourners of all ages waited, some for hours, to place flowers and handmade signs at the base of the bronze Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, marking one of several memorials worldwide following his passing. “We’ve never experienced a loss like this,” said 18-year-old Brooke Kurzeja, who traveled three hours to attend. “My mom compared it to when Prince died.”

In Britain, the impact of Payne’s loss resonates deeply. Fans remember his journey from Wolverhampton on “The X Factor,” where he initially struggled but later joined forces with Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan to form One Direction, a group that captured the hearts of millions.

Alicia Sinclair, 22, shared her wish to unite with other grieving fans on social media after Payne’s death. She and fellow fans quickly organized a WhatsApp group that swelled to nearly 1,000 members over the weekend. “I know not everyone in the fandom will understand, but this is more than just music,” noted Hollie Owers, 28, one of the vigil organizers, as she placed red roses beside a childhood photo of Payne.

Ashleigh Dawson, 25, proudly showed a tattoo of a lyric from Payne’s song “Irresistible.” She reflected on how One Direction’s music had uplifted her during her darkest times in a psychiatric ward years ago, stating, “It may sound silly, but I truly believe One Direction saved my life.”

The band’s rise in the 2010s coincided with the explosion of social media, where dedicated fans shared concert updates and created fan accounts. “We feel like we know them, even if we know we don’t,” said Kate Milner, 25, who attended the vigil with friends from the online fan community. They plan to get tattoos inspired by the arrows on Payne’s arm, representing the band members.

Payne’s death dashed hopes for a One Direction reunion. “The next time they’ll all be together is at the funeral,” remarked Kacey Hopkins, 22, tears in her eyes, as her younger sister, Lily, reacted with a sharp breath and a sign of the cross.

The emotional support shared among fans at the vigil was bittersweet. “He seemed let down by society,” reflected Lori Ramsay-Rouse, 55, who traveled from East Suffolk with her daughter, Chloe, 22. “One Direction was such a crucial part of her growing up, and that connection extended to me.”

The two had camped out for One Direction concerts and continued to do so for Harry Styles and Niall Horan’s solo shows, which brought them closer together. “While it’s sad to be here, there’s comfort in it,” Chloe added, as fans reminisced about past concerts and wore old band T-shirts. When the upbeat “What Makes You Beautiful” played from a Bluetooth speaker, the mood lifted.

As the crowd began to disperse, the sun broke through the clouds. Organizers played One Direction’s cover of Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” inviting everyone to dance around a colorful mound of notes and balloons. The crowd joyfully joined in.