What Madeleine McCann’s twin siblings are doing now after ‘living in her shadow’

Madeleine McCann’s parents vow to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is ‘unwavering’ as new searches for the missing toddler began this week.

She was three when she vanished while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. Her parents, Kate and Gerry, marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance last month.

There has been no positive sighting of her since, with the trail remaining as cold now as it was nearly two decades ago.

New searches have begun in Praia da Luz and a 26-mile stretch of scrubland between the resort and the Foral where German suspect Christian Brueckner lived in 2003.

The new searches for Madeleine, who would have celebrated her 22nd birthday last month, were requested by German police.

They face a race against time to charge Brueckner before he is released from prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.

In their most tribute to Madeleine, who would also be turning 22 this month, Kate and Gerry McCann said: ‘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.’

But Madeleine isn’t Kate and Gerry’s only child – she also has twin younger siblings, Amelie and Sean, who were born in 2005.

What are Madeleine McCann’s twin siblings doing now?

A family friend said of twins Amelie and Sean: ‘They’ve always been in Madeleine’s shadow, and just been the McCann twins.

‘But now they are young adults, they are carving out their own lives.’

Today, both are studying at different universities.

Amelie, who studies at Durham University is described as popular and outgoing and has competed in triathlons in the past.

Speaking for the first time about her sister’s disappearance at a vigil two years ago, she commented: ‘It’s nice that everyone is here together, but it’s a sad occasion.’

Meanwhile, Sean studies chemical engineering at the University of Loughborough and is a champion freestyle swimmer

He’s been tipped to represent Scotland at next year’s Commonwealth Games – and could even compete for Team GB at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Previously, Sean represented Scotland at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games, taking part in the 400 and 1500m Freestyle finals, and is part of the country’s National Open Water Development Squad for open water swimming.

Sean explained how he first started swimming competitively in a post on a local website after winning a grant to fund his training.

He said: ‘At the age of 10, I was selected to swim at City of Leicester, and I have since gone on to win multiple county titles, as well as becoming regional and national champion in my age group.

‘In order to have achieved this, I have had to remain extremely dedicated, getting up at 4am multiple mornings each week to train.’

Their parents have said the twins are grateful to be able to ‘live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now’, despite the continued heartbreak over their missing big sister.

More recently, Kate said: ‘They have their own friends and they keep busy and they’re really sporty but their only wish is for their big sister to come home.’

Who are Madeleine McCann’s parents?

Kate had been a GP but left her job when Maddie vanished. She returned to the healthcare sector during the pandemic.

She now works with people with dementia and is an ambassador for the charity Missing People.

In their recent statement, the couple thanked the charity and other organisations ‘who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding and bringing home the many missing and abducted children’.

Gerry McCann is a research lead and professor of cardiac imaging at the University of Leicester, whose ‘life-changing work’ has been praised by colleagues.

They still live in the same redbrick detached house in Rothley, Leicestershire, where they resided when the toddler disappeared.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, family friend Michelle Canilleri said: ‘I have seen this family’s grief from the very beginning to now.

‘Our hearts go out to them, and the village as a whole hopes they get the answers they so desperately need.’

But as well as deep sympathy, the couple have also been on the receiving end of personal attacks and further anguish.

Two women are accused of stalking the McCann family, including turning up at their home.

Polish national Julia Wandel is due to stand trial in October this year accused of causing serious alarm or distress to the family between June 2022 and February 2025.

Wandel made global headlines in 2023 after claiming to be Madeleine and has continued to speak out on social media despite those claims being rubbished by a DNA test.

She is said to have made calls, left voicemails, and sent a letter and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry, as well as sending their other children, Sean and Amelie, Instagram messages.

Karen Spragg has also denied stalking, allegedly by making calls, sending letters and attending the McCann’s home.

In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating their older sister’s disappearance.

Kate and Gerry still share updates on the Find Madeleine website.

One section is headed ‘Why do we continue?’

Underneath it reads: ‘There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed. Madeleine is still missing, and someone needs to be looking for her. She is young and vulnerable and needs our help. We love her dearly and miss her beyond words.’

A version of this article was first published on May 10, 2025

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