A poignant day..family’s tribute on Maddie’s 18th
MADELEINE McCann’s parents will remember their daughter “quietly” on her 18th birthday today, an occasion they describe as “particularly poignant”.
Kate and Gerry will lay presents and cards in her bedroom which is understood to remain as a shrine to her, unchanged since she was snatched 14 years ago.
They will hold a small celebration for her at home in Rothley, Leicestershire, with their 16-yearold twins Sean and Amelie.
Maddie’s great aunt and uncle Janet and Brian Kennedy, who also live in the village, will pray for her too on the day she would become an adult.
Retired head teacher Brian, 81, said: “They have asked the family and supporters to remember
Madeleine’s birthday quietly and to continue to hope for a definitive outcome to the continuing investigation.”
In a recent message they posted online, Kate and Gerry said: “This year it is particularly poignant as we should be celebrating Madeleine’s 18th birthday,” adding: “Enough said.”
They continued: “As we have said repeatedly, we need to know what has happened to our lovely daughter, no matter what.
“We are very grateful to the police for their continued efforts.
“We hang on to the hope, however small, that we will see Madeleine again.”
Ex-GP turned medical worker Kate, 53, and heart doctor Gerry, 52, have brought carefully chosen gifts and coming-of-age cards for their daughter.
They will be kept for her, either in boxes or on display in her room where she last slept five days prior to her disappearance.
She vanished just 12 days before her fourth birthday from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.
The pretty pink room with glow stars on the ceiling is thought to have been left frozen in time and is crammed with many unopened Christmas and birthday presents, photos and goodwill messages from around the world. It has provided a sanctuary over the years for devout Catholic Kate and her husband, although Gerry previously said in a TV interview: “Soon there will be the practical issue of what to do with a ‘spare’ room one of the twins may need.
“But that was the room she left and it would be familiar to her. It would be hard to dismantle it.”
A pal added: “There will be prayers and quiet reflection with the twins, presents and a special cake for Madeleine’s 18th birthday.”
In her latest anniversary message Kate said: “Every May is tough – a reminder of years passed, of years together lost, or stolen.”
Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian B (Brueckner), 44, remains under investigation as the prime suspect in the abduction.