The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have released a new heartfelt message marking the 18th anniversary of her disappearance.
Kate and Gerry McCann posted an update on the official Find Madeleine Facebook page on the eve of the milestone, thanking supporters ‘for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine’.
They wrote: ‘No matter how near or far she is, Madeleine continues to be right here with us, every day.’
The toddler vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, and there has been no positive sighting of her since.
Nobody has ever been charged in relation to her disappearance either, and the prime suspect was recently cleared of unrelated sex offences allegedly committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
Christian Brueckner, 48, spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in the resort town in 2005.
He has denied all the charges against him and any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
In their post, which also marks Madeleine’s 22nd birthday later this month, Kate and Gerry wrote: ‘As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction, we’d like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.
‘The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to “leave no stone unturned” is unwavering.
‘We will do our utmost to achieve this.
‘May is also the month which includes “International Missing Children’s Day” (25th). We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time.
‘We’re very grateful to the UK Charity, “Missing People” for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.
‘May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day.
‘We continue to “celebrate” her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.’
Last month, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance.
Home Office sources said a request to provide up to £108,000 was approved for the probe, known as Operation Grange, for 2025-26.
It is understood one detective chief inspector, one detective constable and one member of police staff are working on the investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector, Mark Cranwell, who oversees the British investigation into the disappearance of the youngster said: ‘We continue to support Madeleine’s family to understand what happened on the evening of May 3, 2007, in Praia da Luz.
‘Our thoughts remain with the family.’
The total funding given to Operation Grange has been more than £13.2 million since 2011.
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