Missing Madeleine McCann‘s parents have posted a poignant message to their missing daughter on the 18th anniversary of her abduction.

Kate and Gerry McCann updated their official Find Madeleine Facebook page just hours ahead of the milestone of when she went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3 2007

The toddler vanished while in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve and since then there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction, but her parents have never given up hope.

In their message – which also marked what would be Madeleine’s 22nd birthday later this month – they also made a heartfelt nod to missing and displaced children in the UK and war torn Ukraine and Gaza.

Kate and Gerry said: ‘As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction, we’d like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.

‘The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.

‘May is also the month which includes ‘International Missing Children’s Day’ (25th). We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time

‘We’re very grateful to the UK Charity, ‘Missing People’ for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.

Madeleine McCann’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a tribute on the official Find Madeleine page on Facebook on the 18th anniversary of her disappearance

The couple also posted a poignant message celebrating Madeleine as ‘the very beautiful and unique person she is’

Gerry and Kate said that ‘no matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day’

Undated handout file photo of Madeleine McCann, who went missing 18 years ago – she would have been celebrating her 22nd birthday on May 13

Kate and Gerry McCann (pictured in 2011) said in the anniversary post that they would ‘leave no stone unturned’ in their quest to find Madeleine

Madeline went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3 2007. The toddler vanished while in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve and since then there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction

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‘May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.’

The post contained a montage of pictures of Madeleine with the caption:’ No matter how near or far she is, Madeleine continues to be with us, every day.’

Kate and Gerry signed off the message which was posted on Friday night, ahead of Saturday’s anniversary and they are expected to attend a prayer vigil in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark her disappearance.

Earlier this week it emerged that police would be keeping an eye on the event after Kate and Gerry were allegedly stalked by a polish woman called Julia Wandel who has visited their home and called them claiming to be their missing daughter.

Wandel has since been arrested and is in custody ahead of her trial in the UK later this year after she was arrested at Bristol airport on her way to visit Rothley and Kate, 57, and Gerry, 56, are due to give evidence.

Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, has been named as the prime suspect for her abduction and murder by German police but since the announcement five years ago he has not been charged with any offence.

The German was living in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance and is currently serving a seven-year jail term for raping a woman in the same area and he is due for release in the autumn.