On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of their daughter’s kidnapping, Madeleine McCann’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, paid a poignant homage in the tough years that followed that awful night out in 2007.
Madeleine, then three years old, disappeared from her Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, as her parents were dining nearby. She has never been officially reported, despite the fact that a great deal of study has been done all around Europe.
Known as Operation Grange, the Metropolitan Police’s inquiry into her case is still underway. Since it started in 2011, the Home Office has spent around £13.2 million overall for the operation for the 2025–26 fiscal year, adding another £108,000 in April.
Authorities of Germany and Portugal still look at Christian Brueckner, a convicted s*x offender, as the primary suspect in the matter. German prosecutors have said, meanwhile, that charges remain challenging to pursue.
The McCanns attended a modest vigil at the village war memorial in Rothley, Leicestershire, at 7 p.m. to remember this solemn occasion. Police officials were on hand at the event this year for the first time in eight years.
Emphasizing the need to remember Madeleine, the local priest, Reverend Simon Payne, said, “Eighteen years is quite a milestone. People still come to honor Madeleine and pray for her family.
The most recent update from the McCanns drew hundreds of public supportive comments immediately. One said, “I hope this family feels surrounded by love and support from everyone still clinging to hope that Madeleine will return.” At the same time, another commented, “I hope you discover what happened to your daughter in your lifetime.”
Just hours before May 3, a date that has come to symbolize great sadness and unresolved questions for the family, this moving message was posted on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.
The McCanns said as they got ready for this historic event, “The years seem to be speeding by, and while we don’t have any substantial news, our desire to ‘leave no stone unturned’ remains strong. We shall do all we can to bring this about“.
Their article featured Madeleine and a moving quotation about her ongoing influence in their life. They also reminded everyone that since Madeleine’s birthday falls in May and she will be turning 22 this year. “She is always with us, especially on her special day, wherever she is,” they said. “We keep honoring her as the exquisite and distinct person she is”. We much miss her.
The McCanns emphasized in their statement their gratitude for people committed to the worldwide hunt for missing children. “We are immensely grateful to all organizations, charities, and police forces that still remain committed to this cause as well as to the vital work done by the charity ‘Missing People.'”
They also honored “all missing children and their families, both in the U.K. and around the world.” According to recent figures, over 200,000 youngsters in the United Kingdom go missing annually. This emphasizes the need of keeping awareness and assistance in front of such sad circumstances.