Liam Payne has thrilled fans by sharing a touching photo to mark son Bear’s first birthday.
The former One Direction star, 24, and girlfriend Cheryl, 34, famously refuse to show their little boy’s face in public, preferring to let him grow up in private.
But doting dad Liam couldn’t resist uploading a sweet shot of the little lad’s tiny hand.
The image shows Liam – identified by his ‘L’ tattoo – holding out his hand to his son, who has his tiny fingers wrapped around his dad’s thumb.
Read more: Liam Payne admits “struggles” in Cheryl relationship
Liam wrote alongside the pic: “Can’t believe my little man is one today, where does the time go? Happy birthday son you’re my world.”
Fans were quick to pile in with their congratulatory messages as well.
One wrote: “Happy birthday cute Bear. Don’t grow up too fast!”
Another said: “Happy birthday Bear. How time flies by ;)) it seems like yesterday you were just born!!”
A third added: “Adorable!!! Happy birthday little man.”
And a fourth chipped in: “Aww this makes my heart happy. Happy birthday, Bear!”
Liam said this week that he and Cheryl have made an “agreement” to keep Bear out of the public eye.
That’s why the little boy’s face has never been pictured and the rare photos posted by Liam focus instead on Bear’s little legs or hands.
In a chat with the Evening Standard’s ES Magazine, he said: “Rather than being pictured and being put in places, I wanna give him the chance [of a life outside of the public eye]. If I take it away from him now, he never has the chance to go back.”
Liam added that Bear can decide for himself when he’s older whether he wants to be in the spotlight.
While Liam and Cheryl keep Bear hidden from the public, they have spoken in interviews about how much they love parenthood.
Liam told Entertainment Tonight fatherhood has changed him in “every single way”, adding: “It’s the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night.”
Cheryl echoed that in a chat with The Sun, saying: “It changes your life completely but in the most amazing way. But I’ve had the best six months of my life. Really.”
Meanwhile, the couple recently hit back at rumours their relationship has been going through a rocky patch.
They defied the speculation with a loved-up display at the BRIT Awards in February and a cheeky joke about their sex life on live TV!
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BRITs host Jack Whitehall had said to Liam: “You’re performing later, you’re doing a performance from the Fifty Shades movie, it sounds pretty saucy – is there a safe word?”
Liam pointed at Cheryl and joked: “She knows that.”
Cheryl then leaned into the microphone and said that the safe word is “don’t stop”!
Do you understand Cheryl and Liam’s decision to keep Bear out of the spotlight? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!