Kate McCann, the mother of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in 2007, has spoken openly about the profound regret she carries regarding the night her daughter went missing. In her book Madeleine: Our Daughter’s Disappearance and the Continuing Search for Her, Kate revealed that her biggest regret was leaving Madeleine and her twin siblings alone in their holiday apartment while she and her husband, Gerry, dined with friends nearby.
She has described the decision as a “terrible mistake” and acknowledged that, despite common practices at the time, she will forever wish they had stayed with the children. The guilt and grief over Madeleine’s disappearance have haunted her, and she has said it is a burden she will carry for the rest of her life.
The McCanns have continued their search for Madeleine over the years, advocating for missing children and supporting investigations. Despite numerous leads and suspects—including the recent identification of German convict Christian Brückner as a prime suspect—Madeleine’s fate remains unknown.
Kate has emphasized that no parent should have to endure such pain and has urged others to learn from her family’s tragedy by never leaving children unattended. Her regret serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the irreversible consequences of that fateful decision.
