
A solid 18-carat gold toilet, worth £5 million, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in the early hours of this morning and remains missing.

The golden lavatory went on display two days ago and was designed by controversial Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

It was installed as part of a new exhibition at the Oxfordshire palace, the birthplace of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in November 1874.

Visitors to Blenheim Palace were able to use the five million-pound toilet and were allocated a strict three-minute time slot.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the toilet was stolen and a 66-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft and remains in police custody.

The solid 18 carat gold toilet from Bleinheim Palace, Oxfordshire, worth £1 million. It was reportedly stolen in the early hours of this morning and later recovered

The golden lavatory titled 'America' was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The toilet was created for the Guggenheim Museum in New York (pictured), where more than 100,000 people queued to use the security-guarded loo

Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire tweeted that the palace would be closed today 'due to an unforeseen incident' but the Park would remain open

Who inherited Blenheim Palace? Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 63, known as Jamie Blandford, was confirmed in 2014 as the 12th Duke of Marlborough following the death of his father the late Duke of Marlborough, aged 88. At the time of his father's death, a spokeswoman for Blenheim Palace said it was 'too early to say' if he would choose to live in the palace. Blandford battled addictions to heroin and cocaine and endured three spells in prison, with the result that his father took legal action to protect the 11,500-acre family estate where Sir Winston Churchill was born. In 1983, Blandford was fined £100 for assaulting a policeman, and the following year was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for a breach of probation. He was put on probation again in 1985 and fined £1,000 for breaking into a chemist's shop — and, a year later, convicted once more of drug offences. At the time, he admitted spending £20,000 on cocaine in four months. The Marquess of Blandford, known as Jamie Blandford, pictured outside London's Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court in 2000 accused of shoplifting Advertisement

Dominic Hare, chief executive officer of Blenheim Palace, told the BBC the toilet is valued at about six million dollars and was a 'very precious piece'.

He said the theft of the solid gold toilet 'was a huge shock'.

'Staff were instantly aware of what happened and police arrived very, very quickly indeed,' he added.

When asked if the artist had been contacted, he said: 'There were some slightly nervous calls at 6am but we have spoken to the artist and Lord Edward at the art foundation, and many of the trustees, and they have been magnificent in their support.'

Mr Hare added: 'We have a sophisticated security set-up here and we have had no loss of this kind in living memory, which probably reflects the quality of that operation.

'The events of the last 24 hours mean we may have reason to reconsider some of our systems.'

He was also asked whether a party, which took place at the palace on Friday night, could have created an opportunity for the theft.

In response, he said: 'We have been asked not to comment on the investigation. But there was a clear time separation between those things.

'There is always a risk when you display valuable art to the public, but it is worth that risk, even now, it was still worth that risk.'

Confirming that the palace would reopen on Sunday following repair works, Mr Hare explained: 'We've now got a huge hole where there was once a golden toilet.'

Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: 'The piece of art that has been stolen is a high value toilet made out of gold that was on display at the palace.'

Inspector Richard Nicholls added: 'We are aware they left about 4.50am this morning. CCTV is one of the aspects we are looking on and that will come out in due course.'

When asked if he believed a reception party held on the same night of the exhibition's launch could be connected, Insp Nicholls said: 'I am not aware of the reception party personally, but that would form part of our enquiries in order to ascertain events leading up to the item being stolen.'

Insp Nicholls said he was only aware of the toilet being stolen and could not comment as to how the property was accessed.

The fully-functioning solid gold toilet was created by Cattelan for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, where more than 100,000 people queued to use the security-guarded loo.

Now, after more than 20 years, the exhibition marks Cattelan's first solo show in Britain.

To celebrate this, his most controversial works have been placed in and around the Palace in Oxfordshire to engage and contrast with its unique history.

Aside from the toilet, the pieces also include his famous taxidermy horse 'Novecento' suspended from the ceiling of one of the portrait rooms, a model of a schoolboy version of Adolf Hitler on his knees praying and a realistic model of Pope John Paul II being hit by a meteorite.

The theft of the golden lavatory comes after the Duke of Marlborough's half-brother, Edward Spencer-Churchill, said last month it wouldn't be 'the easiest thing to nick'.

Mr Spencer-Churchill told The Times: 'Firstly, it's plumbed in and secondly, a potential thief will have no idea who last used the toilet or what they ate.

'So no, I don't plan to be guarding it.'

Him, is a realistic model of a schoolboy version of Adolf Hitler on his knees praying. It has been placed in the organ room at Blenheim for visitors to see for themselves. The controversial work is one of many on show at Blenheim this autumn

Thames Valley Police said the offenders broke into the palace overnight and left the scene at about 4.50am.

There was no injuries during the burglary.

Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: 'Due to the toilet being plumbed in to the building, this has caused significant damage and flooding.'

Detective Inspector Milne added: 'We believe a group offenders used at least two vehicles during the offence.

'The artwork has not been recovered at this time but we are conducting a thorough investigation to find it and bring those responsible to justice.

'La Nona Ora', translated as 'the ninth hour' is the name given to Cattelan's realistic model of Pope John Paul II being hit by a meteorite. It is one of many controversial pieces placed in and around Blenheim Palace this autumn

She continued: 'Residents will see an increased police presence in the area while officers and staff carry out enquiries.'

'I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area to contact police.

'You can call us on 101, quoting URN 273 (14/9), visit our website or visit a police station.'

Thames Valley Police said they received a report of the burglary at Blenheim Palace at 4.57am.

The golden toilet had proved popular at the Guggenheim and has been described by critics as a pointed satire against the excesses of wealth.

A Blenheim Palace visitor is pictured walking past 'Ego', Cattelan's taxidermy crocodile, which has been suspended from the ceiling of one of the portrait rooms in the Oxfordshire manor house

The sculpture hit the headlines last year after it was offered to US President Donald Trump by the chief curator of the Guggenheim museum in New York, its former home.

Cattelan has previously said: 'Whatever you eat, a two-hundred-dollar lunch or a two-dollar hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise.'

More than 100,000 people made use of its 'participatory nature' at the Fifth Avenue museum between 2016 and 2017, making available to the public 'an extravagant luxury product seemingly intended for the 1%,' said the Guggenheim website.

'We' is a life-sized double bed, with two realistic models of Maurizio Cattelan lying on top. Short for 'We Are The Revolution', the work is now available for the public to see inside Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill

Blenheim Palace chief executive Dominic Hare has urged anyone with any information to contact police.

He said: 'We are saddened by this extraordinary event, but also relieved no-one was hurt.

'We are very grateful to our staff and to Thames Valley Police for their rapid and brave reactions.

'We knew there was huge interest in the Maurizio Cattelan contemporary art exhibition, with many set to come and enjoy the installations.'

'Daddy Daddy' is a large model of the Disney character Pinocchio half submerged in a lake in the grounds at Blenheim. It is designed to look as though he is drowning. It is captured as a rainbow forms above him

'It's therefore a great shame an item so precious has been taken, but we still have so many fascinating treasures in the palace and the remaining items of the exhibition to share.

'The investigation continues, but it will be business as usual from tomorrow, so visitors can continue to come and experience all we have to offer.

'If anyone knows or saw anything suspicious in connection with the event that may help us secure its return please contact Thames Valley Police.'

Blenheim Palace tweeted that the palace would be closed 'due to an unforeseen incident' and apologised for any inconvenience caused

On Twitter Blenheim Palace announced that it would be closed today and said: 'Due to an unforeseen incident at the Palace we are closed until lunchtime, the Park will remain open. Apologies for any inconvenience.'

A site design company for the Palace, EventSiteDesign, tweeted this morning: 'We've had some drama overnight which I won't elaborate on just yet but it has meant we need to redirect our contractor traffic for the day.'

'Glory Glory Hallelujah' is another fascinating Cattelan piece on display at Blenheim, made up of three horse skulls wearing gold armour

'Untitled' is Cattelan's miniature replica of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Vatican City. The Italian artist's version has been placed inside Blenheim Palace as part of his new exhibition

'Others' is an installation of 200 taxidermy birds created by Cattelan. They have been arranged on a marble statue inside Blenheim Palace as part of his first UK solo art show in more than 20 years