LONDON — Nearly two decades after Madeleine McCann disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal, her parents Kate and Gerry McCann have once again made clear that their search for answers has not ended.

Madeleine was just 3 years old when she vanished from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007. She would now be 23.

In a message marking the 19th anniversary of her disappearance, her parents said their determination to find her and seek justice remains unchanged.

💔 “The Search Goes On”
Kate and Gerry have continued to publicly support the investigation and express gratitude toward police officers, authorities, friends and members of the public who have continued looking for answers.

Their latest message emphasized that they have not given up on Madeleine.

The family has repeatedly used the anniversary of her disappearance to remind the public that the case remains unresolved and that they continue to hope for information that could finally explain what happened.

19 Years Without an Answer
Madeleine disappeared from the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz while her parents were dining with friends nearby.

Despite an enormous international investigation involving authorities in Portugal, Britain and Germany, Madeleine has never been located.

Her disappearance became one of the world’s most prominent missing-child cases, generating searches, reported sightings and countless investigative leads over the years.

Yet the central mystery remains:

What happened to Madeleine after she disappeared from the apartment?

🔎 Christian Brückner Remains at the Center of the Investigation
German national Christian Brückner has remained the principal suspect in the German investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brückner has consistently denied involvement.

German prosecutors previously said they believed Madeleine was dead, but no body has ever been found and Brückner has never been convicted in connection with her disappearance.

His status remains one of the most closely watched aspects of the case.

🇵🇹 Searches Have Continued Over the Years
Investigators have conducted repeated searches in Portugal, including operations in areas connected to Brückner.

The investigations have involved multiple police agencies and have continued despite the passage of time.

Authorities have faced enormous challenges because so much time has passed since Madeleine disappeared.

Evidence may have been lost, witnesses’ memories may have changed and the original scene has long since changed.

Nevertheless, investigators have continued to pursue potentially relevant information.

👨‍👩‍👧 Her Family Has Continued to Remember Her
Kate and Gerry have continued to mark Madeleine’s birthday and the anniversary of her disappearance.

Their family has also continued to emphasize that Madeleine remains part of their lives.

In previous anniversary statements, they described her as a unique and much-loved member of their family and said they continue to miss her every day.

Her younger siblings, twins Sean and Amelie, were only 2 years old when Madeleine disappeared.

Sean has largely stayed out of the public spotlight but has recently attracted attention through his swimming career and his selection to represent Scotland at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

⚠️ The Family Has Also Faced Unwanted Attention
The McCanns have endured years of intense public scrutiny surrounding their daughter’s disappearance.

More recently, they faced harassment from Julia Wandelt, a Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine.

Wandelt was convicted of harassing Kate and Gerry in 2025 but was acquitted of the more serious stalking charge.

After the verdict, the McCanns said they took no pleasure in the outcome and urged anyone with genuine evidence about Madeleine’s disappearance to provide it to police.

📺 Parents Criticize New TV Drama
The family has also recently spoken out about a Channel 5 drama concerning the case.

Kate and Gerry said they were disappointed that Under Suspicion: Kate McCann was produced without their involvement or consent.

They argued that productions revisiting the case can have a negative impact on their family while they continue to live with the uncertainty surrounding Madeleine.

Channel 5 defended the production, saying it was based on source material including police documents, court records and publicly available accounts.

🌎 Their Message Remains the Same
After 19 years, Kate and Gerry’s public message has remained remarkably consistent.

They want Madeleine found.

They want to know what happened to her.

And they want those responsible to face justice if evidence establishes what occurred.

The passage of time has not changed that position.

For the McCanns, the disappearance remains an unresolved chapter of their family’s life.

The Search Has Never Truly Ended
Madeleine disappeared when she was a toddler.

Today, she would be a young woman in her early 20s.

Her face has changed from the familiar childhood photographs that have been circulated around the world, but her case remains active in the public consciousness.

Investigators continue to assess information, while her family continues to hope that one day a credible piece of evidence will finally provide the answer they have been waiting for.

Nineteen years have passed, but for Kate and Gerry McCann, the search for Madeleine is not over.

LBC — Madeleine McCann’s parents issue new statement