Madeleine McCann’s parents share new message to mark daughter’s 21st birthday

Madeleine McCann’s parents have shared a new message to mark their daughter’s 21st birthday.

It’s now been just over 17 years since the three-year-old girl tragically vanished on their family holiday in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal.

With worldwide campaigns to find Madeleine, countless documentaries and even other teens convinced they were her, it’s become one of the highest profile missing person cases ever.

Since she went missing back on 3 May 2007, there has been over £13 million spent by the Met police investigating the case, with the Home Office recently granting up to a further £192,000 for the Scotland Yard investigation.

And after recently marking the sad anniversary of her disappearance, Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry have now issued a heartbreaking statement to mark her birthday today (12 May).

Madeleine McCann went missing 17 years ago. (Handout/Getty Images)

Shared to their official campaign to find her, they wrote: “Happy 21^st birthday Madeleine.

“Still missing. Still missed. Still looking.”

The story of the little girl disappearing from the holiday apartment after being left sleeping with her younger twin siblings while Kate and Gerry ate at a tapas bar 120 metres away is one us Brits know very well.

And many joined Madeleine’s parents in marking her birthday as they wrote on Facebook: “Ah man, this brought tears to my eyes. What a nightmare. I think we’ve all probably be thinking and praying a little more for Maddie and her family today.”

Another wrote: “Happy 21st birthday Madeleine… we are all thinking of you sweetheart and all your family x.”

Today is her 21st birthday. (CLEMENS BILAN/DDP/AFP via Getty Images)

As one added: “Still in our thoughts, still in our search, still holding you close to us all. Happy 21st x.”

Recently marking the anniversary of her disappearance, Kate and Gerry shared a post reading: “It's 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It's hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief.

“Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the 'living in limbo' is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches.

"Your support continues to encourage us and bolsters our strength to keep going. We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that.

“Thank you again for remembering Madeleine and all missing children."