Princess Diana’s 1991 Time Capsule Unveiled and New Childhood Photos Revealed

In London today, August 27, 2025, two major developments have brought fresh insight into the life and legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Time Capsule Unearthed After 34 Years A lead-sealed wooden box buried by Princess Diana at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in March 1991 was opened to the public this morning. Intended to remain hidden for centuries, the capsule was excavated early to make way for a new children’s cancer centre. Among the recovered items-despite some water damage-were:

• Kylie Minogue’s 1990 Rhythm of Love CD
• A Casio portable television
• A European passport and a copy of the Sunday Times from the burial date
• Memorabilia selected by two young contest winners on the BBC’s Blue Peter

Hospital staff who were present or employed at GOSH in 1991 assisted in the retrieval. Jason Dawson, the hospital’s executive director, described the moment as “moving, almost like connecting with memories planted by a generation gone by”.

Unseen Childhood Photographs Released On the same day, BBC Reel premiered a short feature in which Diana’s first cousin, Diana McFarlane, publicly discussed the late princess and shared previously unseen family photographs from their childhood together. The intimate images capture the young cousins at play and offer rare insight into Diana’s early years before she joined the British royal family.

These dual unveilings-of both a physical time capsule and hidden personal photographs-underscore Princess Diana’s enduring impact on charitable causes and popular culture. The new GOSH cancer centre, which will open in 2028, aims to expand patient capacity by 20% and foster innovation in paediatric oncology care.