The investigation into the audacious theft of a £5 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace has taken a significant step forward. The 18-carat gold toilet, a creation by Italian artist Maurizio

Cattelan, was stolen in a daring raid at the Oxfordshire estate on September 14, 2019, just a day after its public unveiling.

Despite the passage of four years and the apprehension of seven suspects during that time, no formal charges have yet been brought against anyone involved in the burglary. However, recent reports suggest that police have now submitted case files to prosecutors, raising the prospect of charges being pressed, as reported by the Sun.

The decision to file charges against any of the seven suspects—six men aged 36 to 68 and a 38-year-old woman—rests with the Crown Prosecution Service.

The 18-carat gold toilet, known as 'America,' was initially showcased at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016, where it drew massive crowds of eager visitors. The installation was later relocated to Blenheim Palace, occupying a chamber adjacent to the birthplace of Winston Churchill, for Cattelan's first solo exhibition in the UK in over two decades.

When the theft occurred, artist Maurizio Cattelan expressed hope that it was a mere prank, musing, "Who's so stupid to steal a toilet?" He also noted that the artwork was intended to represent "the one per cent for the 99 per cent."

Dominic Hare, the palace's chief executive, believed that the act of theft would paradoxically serve to immortalize the artwork, while defending the estate's sophisticated security measures at the time of the incident. He remarked that the act was "deeply ironic" since the work, symbolizing the American Dream and available to all, was swiftly taken away and hidden.

Reports indicate that the stolen toilet was likely melted down and repurposed as jewelry. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police stated, "A number of individuals remain released under investigation in relation to this case. A file of evidence is with the CPS for a decision to be made on any charges."

MailOnline has reached out to Thames Valley Police for further information. Photo by stu_spivack, Wikimedia commons.