It’s been sixteen years since her disappearance.
Madeleine McCann‘s younger sister Amelia spoke publicly for the first time last night to mark 16 years since her sibling’s disappearance.
Last night, Amelia who is now 18-years-old joined her parents, Kate and Gerry, at a candle lit ceremony dedicated to Madeleine.
She said: “It’s nice that everyone is here together but it’s a sad occasion.”
This is the first time Amelia has been photographed since she was a toddler. Her appearance may give some insight into what Madeleine would look like as an adult.
Amelia has applied to go to university this coming September. Her twin brother Sean did not attend the service.
May 3rd marked sixteen years since Madeleine McCann disappeared in Portugal and police have never found out what happened to her.
In honour of the 16th anniversary, her parents penned a moving tribute on the ‘Official Find Madeleine Campaign’.
Kate and Gerry wrote, “Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction. Still missing…….still very much missed.”
The heartbroken parents continued, “It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel.”
The family have been through so much.
Friends, family, locals and supporters of the McCann’s gathered outside their home in Rothley, Leicestershire for the ceremony last night.
Fiona Payne, one of Kate’s close friends who was on the holiday in Portugal when three-year-old Maddie vanished, was among the crowd.
She read a moving poem titled ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’ written by Emily Dickinson.
Fiona later shared a warm embrace with Kate.
Amelia lit a candle for her sister Maddie and for all the other missing children pictured at the war memorial.
The vigil came two weeks after a German court said they would not hear a sex offences case against a man who is a suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance.
The family have been through a great deal especially in recent weeks.
Julia Wendell, the 21-year-old who viral after telling her followers she was the missing British girl resurfaced the pain of losing Madeleine.
DNA tests proved Julia Wendell was lying. Results proved that the young woman is 100% from Poland.
Following the negative DNA results, Julie flew home to live with her father and has apologised to Kate and Gerry McCann.
