Who lives at Blenheim Palace?
BLENHEIM Palace not only has an impressive exterior and interior, it also houses a million-pound gold toilet.
But when was the luxurious estate built and is it open to visitors?
Where is Blenheim Palace and when was it built?
Blenheim Palace is an English country house located ear Woodstock, in Oxfordshire.
The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between 1705 and circa 1722 and designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1987.
The palace is also notable as the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill.
The house features extensive grounds including a formal garden, woodland, and lakes.
Who lives at Blenheim Palace?
Blenheim Palace is the residence of the 12th Dukes Marlborough, Charles James (Jamie) and Edla Spencer-Churchill.
Charles James succeeded to the Dukedom when his father John, the 11th Duke of Marlborough died on October 16, 2014.
Following the palace's completion in the 18th Century, it became the home of the Churchill family for the next 300 years.
George Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Princess Diana and Winston Churchill, is the 28-year-old Marquess of Blandford, and future Duke of Marlborough.
This means he will inherit both the title and the grand Blenheim Palace from his father Charles James in the future.
Is it open to the public?
Before the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020, Blenheim Palace was open to visitors daily, except on Christmas Day.
During the second national lockdown in 2020, the Palace, courtyards, shop, and restaurants were closed from Thursday November 5 until Wednesday December 2.
Luckily the park and gardens remain open but with extra restrictions and social distancing measures in place.
Visitors are no longer able to purchase tickets in person, and must now pre-book time slots via the palace website.
When you buy one ticket, you are then subject to free entry for 12 months.
Tickets for the Palace, Park & Gardens for adults cost £27, for concessions and students £25, for children £16, and a family ticket costs £67.50.
Tickets for the Park & Gardens for adults cost £17, for concessions and students £14, for children £7.60, and a family ticket costs £44.50.
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What happened to the solid gold toilet?
Thieves stole a £1million solid gold toilet in a 5am raid at Blenheim Palace in September 2019.
The fully functioning loo, entitled America, was at the time valued at $6million (£5million)
The bling toilet was swiped just two days after the 18-carat masterpiece went on display at Winston Churchill's birthplace in Woodstock, Oxon.
It was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and proved popular when it went on display at the Guggenheim museum in New York in 2016.
The masterpiece was once offered to President Donald Trump who turned it down.
In November 2020 - more than a year since the theft took place - Thames Valley Police said they were no closer to finding the treasured bog, which was stolen by five burglars.
Over the past year, officers have arrested seven people on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to burgle and handling stolen goods.
But all arrested were released under investigation and no charges have ever been made.
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