The parents of Madeleine McCann failed to attend a prayer vigil tonight on the harrowing 17th anniversary of her disappearance – when a young Polish woman insisting she was Maddie bizarrely turned up.
A relative said Kate and Gerry were at an undisclosed location for a 'much-needed' long weekend away.
At an informal gathering of friends and sympathizers, a message from them was read out and they apologized for their absence.
Read by the Reverend Robert Gladstone of the local parish church, it began: 'Good evening, we are sorry that we cannot be with you this evening, but we thank you for coming together and sharing your hope for Madeleine and other missing children.
'It's been seventeen years since Madeleine was taken from us. It's hard to even say that number without shaking your head in disbelief.”
Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, at the age of three
Kate and Gerry McCann pictured together during an interview with the BBC in April 2017
Julia Wendell, is known as the 'Maddie faker'. She listened attentively to the vigil after traveling from Poland to attend the event (pictured)
The small service was held at the Baptist Church, Rothley, to mark the 17th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance
Tributes were paid by those at the vigil on Friday evening, with several candles being lit during the event
Echoing the words they previously posted on social media, they added: 'Although we are happy in many ways and can now live relatively normal and enjoyable lives, 'living in limbo' is still very disturbing . And the absence still hurts.'
Unexpected visitor Julia Wendell, 22, known as the 'Maddie faker', accompanied by friend Robert Zyla, listened intently, clutching a letter she had desperately hoped to give to the McCanns.
Later she talked about her 'disappointment' that they had not been present, about her mission and about the fact that she had come from Polandthat she had one question for them.
After the 45-minute service, she said, “I'm Madeleine McCann. I have always believed in it and I came here because I want to ask Kate and Gerry to do a DNA test.
“They haven't done one yet to prove I'm not their daughter.” She added, “No, I'm not crazy. I'm not a liar.'
Her presence later became known to relatives and church representatives.
A crowd of fifty people gathered at the Baptist Church in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire – the informal gathering took place indoors and not outside the war memorial as usual, due to heavy rain.
Among them were Kate's uncle, retired school principal Brian Kennedy and his wife Janet, who read verses.
Mr Kennedy said: 'Each time we hope this annual event will be the last. The search for Madeleine continues.'
Adults and children then lit candles in memory of Maddie and prayers were said.
Supporters also read mantras, including “Never Give Up,” “Don't Forget Me,” “Still Missing, Still Missed” and “All Children Are Precious.”
The McCann's are clinging to a glimmer of hope that their daughter, now 20, almost 21 years old, might still be alive.
Members of the congregation will gather at Friday's service, which was not attended by Kate and Gerry McCann
Mrs Wendell claims she wanted to hand a letter to the McCanns and appeal for a DNA test
Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in 2007 at the age of three, turns 21 this month
The latest public anniversary gathering comes at an awkward time as Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in Maddie's disappearance, is on trial for horrific, unrelated sex crimes.
German police are convinced that Maddie is dead and plan to charge prime suspect Brueckner – sensationally named almost four years ago – with her kidnapping and murder without a body.
The convicted pedophile is currently on trial in his native Germany for five unrelated rapes and sex crimes, three of which involve minors.
Brueckner, 47, is also serving a sentence for the rape of an elderly American tourist at the same Praia da Luz resort where Maddie was snatched.
Mr Kennedy – Maddie's great-uncle – said he was 'encouraged by people out on a most unpleasant rainy evening.'
He said: 'Kate and Gerry have gone, they haven't told me where and I haven't asked, and it's a bit of a clash.
“But they work very hard and really needed a break.”
Gerry, 55, is a renowned heart doctor, while former GP Kate, 56, is now a medical worker.
It is not known whether they also took their 19-year-old twins Seam and Amelie with them.
Mrs. Kennedy later went to greet Julia and learned that a visitor from Poland was present, but did not realize she was an impersonator.
She said: 'Please help me meet Kate and Gerry. I'm very disappointed they're not here.'
She handed over a letter, which was taken by the minister, and they assured her that they would pass it on.
Julia gained notoriety last February after insisting she was the missing British toddler in fake social media posts using her username '@IamMadeleineMcCann'.
But she was persuaded to take a DNA test and the results proved conclusively that she was not in a relationship with Madeleine.
Accompanied by friend Robert Zyla, Wendell listened intently at the wake, clutching a letter she had desperately hoped to give to the McCanns. Pictured during a BBC interview
She then revealed she regretted making the claims online after receiving a barrage of abuse and death threats in the wake of her headline stunt.
But tonight she insisted: “I'm Madeleine McCann, and I'll prove it.”
British police have just received new funding of almost £200,000 from the Home Office to keep their investigation, codenamed Operation Grange, going.
So far, Scotland Yard's 13-year investigation, which is still being treated by officers as a missing persons case, has cost the taxpayer a whopping £13.2 million.
A Home Office spokesperson has confirmed: 'Ministers have approved a request to provide up to £192,000 for Operation Grange in 2024-25, in line with our dedicated grant processes.
'The total amount is just under £13.2 million since 2011.'
Maddie disappeared from a holiday apartment in the popular Algarve resort of Luz, leaving her alone with her toddler twin siblings.
Her parents were dining with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant at the time, regularly checking on the children for half an hour.
The McCans have previously said: 'We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive, but whatever the outcome, we need to know because we need to find peace.'