On what would have marked her 21st birthday, Madeleine McCann’s parents, Kate and Gerry, shared a poignant reflection on their daughter, who has been missing for 17 years.
Since Madeleine disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007, her case has continued to capture global attention.
Kate and Gerry McCann have committed themselves to the search for their daughter, maintaining hope throughout the years despite the long passage of time.
On the 17th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, the McCanns posted a heartfelt message on the Finding Madeleine website, along with a touching update to commemorate her 21st birthday. However, they also shared a poignant confession regarding their missing daughter.
Madeleine was last seen on May 3, 2007, while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz. Her parents left her and her younger siblings asleep in their apartment as they dined with friends at a nearby restaurant.
The search for Madeleine is still ongoing.
Home Office minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom has stated that funding is still being allocated to Operation Grange, the Metropolitan Police’s investigation focused on Madeleine’s case.
In a statement to LBC, he confirmed that the Home Office has allocated £192,000 for the 2024-25 period to further the search for Madeleine.
As of March 31, 2024, the investigation’s total expenditure has reached £13.2 million, funding a part-time team consisting of three officers and one police staff member.
The Independent recently reported that Julian Peribañez, a private investigator previously hired by the McCanns, is returning to Praia da Luz to revisit the location of Madeleine’s disappearance, looking into potential leads that Portuguese authorities may have missed.
Peribañez commented, “The kind of person who knows what happened lurks in the underground of every city or town.”
Christian Brueckner, a convicted German rapist and the main suspect in the case, has not been charged in relation to Madeleine’s disappearance.
He denies any involvement and is currently serving a prison sentence for a different crime committed in Portugal in 2005, according to the Independent.
In a message commemorating what would have been Maddie’s 21st birthday, Kate and Gerry McCann expressed their lingering pain and gratitude for the continued public support.
“It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief. While we are fortunate in many ways and can lead a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the feeling of ‘living in limbo’ remains very unsettling, and the absence still aches,” they wrote.
They added, “Thank you again for remembering Madeleine and all missing children.”
This sentiment was also reflected in a message posted on the Find Maddie Campaign Facebook page on Madeleine’s 21st birthday, featuring one of her last known photos with the word ‘hope’ underneath it.
Comments from supporters included heartfelt messages such as, “Forever hoping and praying that Madeleine will be returned to her loving family… Happy Birthday, sweet Madeleine,” and “Still in our thoughts, still in our search, still holding you close to us all. Happy 21st x.”
As Kate and Gerry McCann mark this significant birthday, they continue their search while sharing a poignant confession.
They vow to never cease their search, concluding with: “Happy 21st birthday, Madeleine. Still missing, still missed, still looking.”
