Madeleine McCann’s parents Kate and Gerry fail to attend prayer vigil on 17th anniversary of her disappearance [Video]

17:50 EDT 03 May 2024, updated 05:16 EDT 04 May 2024

The parents of Madeleine McCann failed to attend a prayer vigil tonight on the poignant 17th anniversary of her disappearance – as a young Polish woman who insists she is Maddie bizarrely turned up.

Kate and Gerry were said by a family member to be away at a secret location on a ‘much needed’ long weekend break.

A message from them was read out during an informal gathering of friends and well wishers and they apologised for not being present. 

Read by vicar the Rev. Robert Gladstone from the local parish church, it started: ‘Good evening, we are sorry that we cannot be with you tonight but we thank you for coming together and wanting to share your hope for Madeleine and other missing children.

‘It’s 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief.’