Madeleine McCann’s parents pay emotional tribute to daughter on her 21st birthday, say ‘still searching’

A heartfelt message has been shared by Madeleine McCann’s parents to mark their missing daughter’s birthday. Kate and Gerry revealed they were “still searching” as they acknowledged her 21st birthday milestone.

The heartwarming post was shared on the Find Maddie campaign’s official Facebook page today (Sunday, May 12). The couple wrote: “Happy 21st birthday Madeleine. Still missing, still missed, still searching.”

A photograph of a smiling Madeleine was shared alongside the message. Madeleine, who went missing in Portugal when she was just three years old, was wearing a white sun hat and a pink dress in the snap.

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Hundreds of people left comments on the post, with many sending well wishes to Madeleine’s family. One wrote: “This brought tears to my eyes. What a nightmare. I think we’re all probably thinking and praying a little extra for Maddie and her family today.”

Another said: “Happy 21st birthday Maddie. Always wishing for answers for your family.” A third posted: “Happy birthday sweet girl. We haven’t forgotten, we never will.”

It’s been 17 years since Madeleine went missing while on a family holiday in the Algarve. She was last seen on May 3, 2007. In a social media post on the anniversary of her disappearance, her parents said: “Although we are lucky in many ways and can live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the ‘living in limbo’ is still very upsetting. And the absence still hurts.”