Madeleine McCann’s parents yesterday spent a 15th Christmas without their beloved daughter – and said the hunt for the missing girl was “like Groundhog Day”.
Kate and Gerry McCann revealed “work and progress” continues but with “no significant” developments.
German prosecutors have said they are certain Christian Brueckner, 45, was responsible for Maddie’s disappearance.
In a Christmas message on their Facebook page, heart doctor Gerry and GP turned medical worker Kate, both 53, speak movingly about Maddie. She was just days short of her fourth birthday when abducted from the family’s holiday flat in Portugal.
Referring to the 1993 film in which Bill Murray’s character relives the same day over and over again, the couple said: “It feels a little bit like Groundhog Day with Covid and its requirement for social-distancing and face-masks and, sadly, more suffering for many.
“We’d all hoped and probably expected things to be quite different by now.
“It’s a little similar in some ways with the investigation to find Madeleine... work and progress continue but with no significant news to share.
“Despite this, we couldn’t let the opportunity pass to say a very big ‘Thank you’ once again to all our supporters. This is our 15th Christmas without Madeleine and yet we still receive so many kind words of encouragement and support, not to mention the many Christmas cards.
“Amazing and humbling – thank you so much.” Gerry and Kate, from Rothley, Leics, also have twins Sean and Amelie, 16, who were babies when Madeline vanished in Praia da Luz, Algarve.
German prosecutors say they are sure she was abducted and murdered by convicted sex offender Brueckner, who is in prison for other offences.
New evidence is reported to have come to light strengthening the case against him but Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick has said police will continue their probe “until there is nothing left to do”.
A £300,000 grant from the UK’s Home Office will keep the Madeleine task force operating until at least next spring.
