Madeleine McCann’s sister, 18, speaks for first time since disappearance

The little sister of missing Maddie, who was asleep in the room when she vanished, has spoken for the first time – 16 years after she disappeared.

Madeleine McCann’s little sister has spoken out for the first time since the girl vanished 16 years ago.

Amelie, now 18, was asleep in the same room – alongside her twin brother Sean – when Maddie went missing from her family’s Praia de Luz holiday apartment in May 2007 at the age of three.

She has not been seen since.

On Wednesday, the McCann family marked the 16th anniversary of the toddler’s abduction with an emotional candle light vigil held at their home village in Rothley, Leicestershire.

During the touching service, Amelie was photographed for the first time since Maddie’s disappearance, alongside her parents Kate and Gerry.

Sean did not attend.

Madeleine McCann disappeared 16 years ago in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Picture: Police handout

The young woman also spoke publicly for the first time on her older sister’s tragic disappearance.

“It’s nice that everyone is here together but it’s a sad occasion.”

The family-held vigil came just hours after Kate and Gerry issued a heartbreaking statement about their eldest child.

Maddie’s parents revealed they are still hoping for a breakthrough in the case surrounding the abduction of their little girl, who would now be 19, in a post shared to the official Find Madeleine Instagram Page.

The grieving parents said they struggle to find the words to describe their feelings, before sharing an emotional poem called The Contradiction by Clare Pollard they said “resonates strongly with us”.

Gerry, Kate and daughter Amelie, now 18, remember missing Maddie on the painful anniversary of her abduction. Picture: Splash News

It’s the first time Maddie’s little sister has spoken publicly since that fateful night. Picture: Splash News

Maddie would be 19 today. Picture: Police Handout

Despite recent updates in the case, including a Polish girl who claimed to be Maddie and the news that suspect Christian B may not be charged, the McCanns remained unfazed.

“The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough,” the post read.

“Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction.

“Still missing …… still very much missed.

“It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel.”

The heart-wrenching poem reads: “You are not here, I’m not myself, but still I talk to you like this.

“I cannot hold you, yet I do: please let me hold you in my head and where you are now, hold me too.

After posting the poem, the couple wrote: “Thank you to everyone for your support – it really helps.”

Her parents Kate and Gerry shared an emotional poem, stating it ‘resonates’ with them. Picture: Instagram/officialfindmadeleine

The heart-wrenching poem reads: “You are not here, I’m not myself, but still I talk to you like this.

“I cannot hold you, yet I do: please let me hold you in my head and where you are now, hold me too.

After posting the poem, the couple wrote: “Thank you to everyone for your support – it really helps.”

They thanked the public for their support. Picture: Joe Giddens/AFP

It comes a week after German prosecutors announced they were dropping rape charges against suspect Christian B as they did not have jurisdiction over him.

Christian B, 45, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in Germany over the rape of a pensioner in Praia da Luz, the same area in Portugal where Maddie was snatched almost 20 years ago.

Based on evidence that was uncovered during the Maddie investigation he was then charged with three offences of aggravated rape and two offences of the sexual abuse of children allegedly committed in Portugal at the time she went missing.

These charges have now been dropped.

Charges against suspect Christian B have been dropped. Picture: Italian Carabinieri press office/AFP

The Polish woman who claimed to be the missing toddler was ruled out by DNA recently.

Earlier in the year a Polish woman named Julia Wendell – who also uses the surname Wandelt – came forward claiming to be Madeleine McCann but a DNA test found her to be Polish.

She later apologised in a wild 17-page letter to the family before becoming embroiled in a police investigation over allegations of indecent images being found on her phone.

Kate and Gerry issued a statement after the DNA tests proved Wendell wasn’t Maddie, stating: “There isn’t anything to report at this time. If and when there is, it will come from The Metropolitan Police.”