Madeleine McCann's Family Holds Vigil on 19th Anniversary of Disappearance

The family of Madeleine McCann held a vigil to mark the 19th anniversary of her disappearance from a resort in Portugal in May 2007. The outdoor gathering took place in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, where family members were accompanied by supporters.

Prayers were said for Madeleine, who was three years old at the time of her disappearance while sleeping with her younger siblings. Neither parent addressed the crowd during the vigil. Family members lit candles at the war memorial at Cross Green. Kate's uncle Brian Kennedy read the poem "The Beacon" by Simon Armitage.

Local villager Michelle Canilleri joined supporters in reading phrases including "never give up", "don't forget about me", and "still missing, still missed". She later stated that she felt for the family. After the service, one parent was seen smiling and chatting with locals.

The family posted on social media expressing gratitude for support from friends, family, police, and authorities, and stated they would never give up.

The vigil occurred six months after Julie Wandelt, who claimed to be Madeleine, received a six-month jail sentence for harassing the family. A vicar addressing the crowd said the parents had been dragged through the courts by someone falsely claiming to be their daughter.

Wandelt was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court and deported to her home country after serving the term. Following the conviction, the family stated they took no pleasure in the result despite the guilty verdict. The police consider the case open, with the government approving a request from the Metropolitan Police for up to £86,000 for Operation Grange in 2026-27, according to a Home Office spokesman.