Madeleine McCann’s parents say their daughter’s “absence still aches” in a touching social media post.

The post, published on the 17th anniversary of the girl’s disappearance, reads: “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.”

As of April 2024, Maddie would be 20 years old. Her parents’ heartbreaking update comes amid The Mirror’s coverage of the trial of Madeleine suspect Christian Brueckner, accused of a string of sex offences unrelated to Madeleine’s case.

Up to a further £192,000 has been granted by the Home Office for the Scotland Yard investigation into the disappearance of the then youngster. The confirmation of the latest annual funding for Operation Grange was revealed recently in a parliamentary written answer by Home Office minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom. More than £13 million has already been spent investigating the case.

Responding to a parliamentary written question by Conservative peer Lord Black of Brentwood, Lord Sharpe said: “For the year 2024-25 the Home Office has agreed to provide up to £192,000 to the Metropolitan Police Service through special grant funding for Operation Grange, the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. At March 31 2024, the total cost of the investigation was £13.2 million.”

Yesterday, a Met Police detective told how the case was blown open by a voicemail left on a Scotland Yard answer machine. Det Con Mark Draycott is the first police officer to answer questions in court about the youngster’s 2007 disappearance. He has worked on Operation Grange, the £13 million probe into the Madeleine case, since it was launched in 2011. DC Draycott, 49, was called by the defence team to give evidence in the trial of convicted paedophile Brueckner.

The German was dramatically named by prosecutors as the prime suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance in 2020. Brueckner’s former friend Helge Busching, who knew him in the Algarve in the mid-2000s, tipped off Scotland Yard in 2017.

Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, when her family were holidaying in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, Portugal. Her parents Gerry and Kate left their three children – including toddler twins Sean and Amelie – sleeping in their apartment while they dined at a tapas bar – 120 metres away.

When Kate returned to check on the kids at around 10pm that evening, she discovered that Madeleine was not in her bed and was missing.