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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Everything we know as as search for Madeleine McCann enters its third day
Everything we know as as search for Madeleine McCann enters its third day The search of land in Praia da Luz continues on Thursday, 18 years after the three-year-old's disappearance. The searches are taking place between Brueckner's old rented cottage and a rural area near Lagos, Atalaia (Image: PA ) Madeleine McCann was three years old when she vanished on May 3, 2007 after her parents left her asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, Portugal. Since then, hers has become one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world, with British, Portuguese and European police forces involved in the investigation. Police forces from across Europe have launched multiple searches for Madeleine McCann since her disappearance in 2007. Early efforts focused on the Praia da Luz resort, where she was last seen in her family's holiday apartment. In 2013, British police began Operation Grange, a formal investigation into the case. Searches have included digging in scrubland, draining reservoirs, and using sniffer dogs and ground-penetrating radar. German authorities have also led inquiries in recent years, targeting prime suspect, 48-year-old Christian Brückner. Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday flat in Portugal in 2007 (Image: PA ) Article continues below The latest one commenced on Tuesday this week, searching the suspects old place of residence in Praia da Luz, covering a large patch of land near the home of their prime suspect and the McCanns' holiday apartment. Here's everything we know. The latest investigation Where are police searching? Operational tents have been set up in the nearby village of Atalaia as investigation teams search over 20 plots of land in Praia da Luz. German authorities, who are leading this investigation, are searching the old residence of Christian Brückner, a man who is currently in jail for the offence of rape, to find anything that could prove Madeleine was ever taken there. What have they found? Teams investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. The search teams were seen using pickaxes, shovels and chainsaws to clear dense vegetation and dig near a derelict building. On Tuesday, fresh searches for Madeleine began in countryside a few miles from Praia da Luz, with firefighters spotted pumping water to drain a well. (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved ) About a dozen officers focused on one abandoned building where digging was taking place, while another member of the search team cleared large rocks. The Daily Express reported that investigation teams have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. A man who knew Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner has made a dramatic appeal to police, claiming they are searching in the wrong place. Ken Ralphs told GB News that Brueckner's alleged accomplice once broke down in tears and confessed plans to help abduct a child in Praia de Luz. He said: "He cried that he needed the money to get out the country with his family and children and that's why he got involved." Mr Ralphs identified what he described as the last property Brueckner stayed in before Madeleine vanished – and urged investigators to focus there. Frustrated by years of inaction, he said: "For over 18 years, I've pressed the police and all they can do is blame each other for not passing this information on." The prime suspect Last year, Christian Brueckner was cleared of unrelated sexual offences between 2000 and 2017 (Image: Phil Harris ) Christian Brückner is serving a jail sentence in Germany after raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal in 2005. He is due to be released later this year. He moved to Portugal in 1995 after serving a two-year prison sentence in Germany for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in 1994, he is known to have been renting a cottage in Praia da Luz at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. Soon after the media descended on the resort in 2007, he moved back to Germany. In October 2024, he was acquitted of two charges rape and two of sexual abuse in a German rape trial where it was argued there was a lack of evidence and witnesses who were not credible. Police have previously claimed he made a 30-minute phone call from the same area just an hour before Madeleine disappeared. He is alleged to have confessed on two occasions to kidnapping and sexually abusing the toddler - once to a friend in a German bar in 2017 and again to his prison cellmate in 2020. The German national was formally identified as a suspect in 2022, but has denied any involvement. He also denied committing the 2005 rape for which he was convicted of in 2019. Brückner has not been charged in the McCann case, but German authorities began investigating him in June 2020 for her kidnap and murder. German authorities maintain that he is the main suspect in Madeleine's disappearance and are pushing for charges before his scheduled release in September. Article continues below The last search The most recent search prior to this one was also executed by German police in spent a week searching the Barragem do Arade reservoir, around 30 miles from Praia da Luz, after receiving of a "tip-off". It was previously searched by divers in 2008 after Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia ordered them to look to see if Madeleine McCann's body was there. Nothing was found.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Madeleine McCann search team finds 'evidence' in abandoned houses
Teams investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. German and Portuguese police have been searching abandoned properties near the area where Madeleine went missing 18 years ago. The search teams were seen using pickaxes, shovels and chainsaws to clear dense vegetation and dig near a derelict building. On Tuesday, fresh searches for Madeleine began in countryside a few miles from Praia da Luz, with firefighters spotted pumping water to drain a well. Madeleine, then aged three, vanished while on holiday with her family in the Algarve resort, after her parents went out to dinner and left her sleeping in a room with her toddler twin siblings. READ MORE: Family of missing Brit in Portugal urge locals to check CCTV footage READ MORE: Serial killer Rose West's son set to marry at one of Wales' most famous hotels About a dozen officers focused on one abandoned building where digging was taking place, while another member of the search team cleared large rocks. The Daily Express reported that investigation teams have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. The search is being carried out at the request of the German investigators, as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. He is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here In October last year, Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. It has been reported that teams will look where trenches were dug near the resort at the time of Madeleine's disappearance, at wells, ruins and water tanks, and that there are plans to examine 21 pieces of land. The Metropolitan Police said they were aware of the operation but that British officers will not be present. German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches in 2023, near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz. Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir. It was previously searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine's body was there. British police were later given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished in 2014. Last month Madeleine's family, who are from Rothley in Leicestershire, marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, describing her as "beautiful and unique", before her 22nd birthday, and vowed to continue the search. A statement from her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and the family, said: "The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this." In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Wales Online
5 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
Madeleine McCann search team finds 'evidence' in abandoned houses
Madeleine McCann search team finds 'evidence' in abandoned houses Police are beginning the second day of their search near abandoned houses a few miles from the town where Madeleine went missing Search teams investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann clearing branches at a derelict property (Image: PA ) Teams investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. German and Portuguese police have been searching abandoned properties near the area where Madeleine went missing 18 years ago. The search teams were seen using pickaxes, shovels and chainsaws to clear dense vegetation and dig near a derelict building. On Tuesday, fresh searches for Madeleine began in countryside a few miles from Praia da Luz, with firefighters spotted pumping water to drain a well. Madeleine, then aged three, vanished while on holiday with her family in the Algarve resort, after her parents went out to dinner and left her sleeping in a room with her toddler twin siblings. About a dozen officers focused on one abandoned building where digging was taking place, while another member of the search team cleared large rocks. It has been reported that search teams have taken away evidence (Image: PA ) The Daily Express reported that investigation teams have taken samples of potential evidence from properties near Praia Da Luz in Portugal. The search is being carried out at the request of the German investigators, as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. Article continues below He is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here In October last year, Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. It has been reported that teams will look where trenches were dug near the resort at the time of Madeleine's disappearance, at wells, ruins and water tanks, and that there are plans to examine 21 pieces of land. The Metropolitan Police said they were aware of the operation but that British officers will not be present. German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches in 2023, near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz. Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir. It was previously searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine's body was there. British police were later given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished in 2014. Last month Madeleine's family, who are from Rothley in Leicestershire, marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, describing her as "beautiful and unique", before her 22nd birthday, and vowed to continue the search. A statement from her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and the family, said: "The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this." In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance. Article continues below
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Makes Unexpected Nod to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Garden Party Appearance
Kate Middleton hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party on May 20—her first appearance at such an event in two years. The Princess of Wales's ensemble was loaded with symbolism and meaning, from tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth to her husband Prince William to—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? Only Kate knows if it was a coincidence or not, but the future queen wore the same hat on Tuesday that she wore to Harry and Meghan's royal wedding in 2018, just one day after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary on May an unexpected sartorial decision, Kate Middleton not only paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth through her butter yellow Emilia Wickstead dress worn to yesterday's Buckingham Palace garden party and to Prince William through the earrings she chose—but the future queen also nodded to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in her ensemble. Let's break down the entire look: the Princess of Wales's dress on May 20 was not only an homage to the late Queen's affinity for wearing bright colors (it made her easier to spot in a crowd, she explained), but Kate had also previously worn it to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, specifically to a Service of Thanksgiving celebrating her historic 70 years on the throne. Kate accessorized Tuesday with the same pair of Robinson Pelham earrings worn to her wedding to William on April 29, 2011. But that wasn't the only wedding callback Kate wore yesterday—her Philip Treacy hat was also worn to a well-known and widely covered royal wedding in recent memory: that of the Duke and Duchess of Susssex, who coincidentally had just celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary the day prior, on May 19. Whether this was an intentional fashion nod—saying something without saying a word—or a true coincidence, there's no way that someone on Kate's team (or even Kate herself) wasn't aware of the decision. Kate has only worn the hat a couple of times—to Harry and Meghan's wedding, then to Trooping the Colour in 2019, and now to the garden party. The saucer-style headpiece is pale yellow and features a collection of round flowers complemented by a rosette, according to The Daily Express, which called it 'distinctive and eye-catching and a timeless, sophisticated choice for special occasions.' While once fiercely close with brother-in-law Harry—Harry even said in the past that he considered Kate the sister he never had—thanks to Harry's strained relationship with William, Kate's relationship with Harry has cooled, as well. Kate appeared on the surface to have a friendly relationship with Meghan in the early years of Harry and Meghan's courtship, but in his 2023 book Endgame, royal biographer Omid Scobie wrote that when she became a member of the royal family, Meghan hoped Kate 'would be someone she could at least turn to for an encouraging word during her lowest points. They were once both outsiders, middle-class women brought into the House of Windsor for unimaginably different lives. Kate, however, was uninterested in forming this kind of bond with Meghan.' Yet, as a source previously told Us Weekly, Kate and Meghan 'are two women under serious amounts of pressure, stress, and under a huge spotlight that no one can relate to—they will always have a bond that no one can break.' In her 2021 interview alongside Harry with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan called Kate 'a good person,' adding, 'I think so much of what I have seen play out is this idea of polarity, where if you love me, you don't have to hate her. And if you love her, you don't need to hate me.' Of Kate's relationship with Harry today, Scobie wrote that Kate 'was closest to Harry, and she will always look back fondly on those moments…and the relationship he had with their children…but to her, there is no way she could ever trust them after all their interviews.' In addition to that, Harry and Meghan's decision to step back as working royals in 2020 and relocate to the U.S. also put more strain on William and Kate to 'fill the working void left behind,' Scobie added. Harry himself said that his family 'won't speak to me' in an emotional BBC interview earlier this month, one where he also sought reconciliation. Yesterday's garden party saw the Prince and Princess of Wales mingle with 7,500 guests from a number of their patronages, military affiliations, and projects close to their hearts, including Homewards, Action for Children, and Ty Hafan, according to The Mirror. The couple also chatted with the family of Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old photographer who photographed William at an investiture and met with Kate at Windsor Castle last October before her far-too-soon death in December. Other attendees at the garden party included Holocaust survivor Steven Frank and 10-year-old Tony Hudgell, who missed a garden party last year because he got stuck in traffic, prompting another invitation this year. All's well that ends well, as yesterday was Kate's first garden party since 2023, so Hudgell might have missed 2024's party, but he got the chance to meet the Princess of Wales in exchange. Read the original article on InStyle
West Australian
01-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Bombs, buckets and victory: Ruby Bales looks back on her life as she celebrates 100th birthday
Ruby Bales has been witness to some of history's defining moments. As she turned 100 on Thursday, Mrs Bales looked back on some of those events. Like her time as a fire officer in London during Britain's World War II struggle against German incendiary bombs. And joining crowds outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate VE Day — victory in Europe day, which marked the German surrender. And her time working at celebrated London florists, Longmans, which gave her an insight into the operation of the business which went on to prepare the future Queen Elizabeth's wedding and coronation bouquets. Mrs Bales was born in East Ham, London, on May 1, 1925. While still at school, she joined the war effort, aged 16. 'I was given a tin hat and an arm band,' she said. She was part of a team of three, equipped with a stirrup pump and a water bucket. 'I carried the buckets of water,' she said. They went into action during The Blitz, German aerial bombing attacks on British cities in 1940 and 1941. Her house was damaged when a landmine attached to a parachute dropped on the next block. 'We didn't have a roof for years, we had tarpaulins,' Mrs Bales said. 'We didn't have windows for years.' At the age of 17 she worked as a book-keeper at Longmans, before training as a comptometrist — using an early mechanical calculator — and then worked at International Harvester, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery. In 1943 she met Les Bales from Perth. In January 1945 they married, and were among the crowds celebrating VE Day outside the palace on May 8, 1945. 'There were crowds, they were climbing everything,' she said. 'Everyone was cheering, everything was pandemonium.' In 1946 Mrs and Mrs Bales and baby Keith, (Colin and Glenys would be born in later years) set sail for Perth, and their new life. Back in London the city celebrated again in 1947 when Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey. And Mrs Bales is well aware of the mystery around the day — what became of Queen Elizabeth's wedding bouquet, which had been made by Longmans. Some photos of the day show the Queen standing without the bouquet even though the bridesmaids carry theirs. In 2019 The Daily Express reported that because the bouquet — made by Martin Longman — went missing, the royal couple had to interrupt their honeymoon to pose for pictures with the Queen holding a replacement bouquet also made by Mr Longman. And so from then on all royal brides had two bouquets made, the paper said. Adding further intrigue, the Royal Family's site says that on the day after the wedding the bouquet was sent back to the abbey, where it was laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. On her drive to Westminster Abbey for her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth carried another bouquet made up by Martin Longman.
