Princess Diana’s Time Capsule Opened 34 Years Later: What’s Inside

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Princess Diana‘s legacy stands the test of time.

The time capsule that the Princess of Wales had buried back in 1991 at the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London was finally unearthed on August 27, offering a glimpse into the early ’90s era through its contents.

Among the discovered items were Kylie Minogue’s Rhythm of Love album from 1990, a Casio pocket TV, a passport, a Sunday Times newspaper dated at the time of the time capsule’s burial, a photo of Diana, and various other mementos, as reported by NBC News. Some of these artifacts had suffered water damage, but photos reveal that they remained mostly undamaged after approximately 35 years.

In the early ’90s, the former British royal, who served as president of GOSH from 1989 and visited frequently until her passing in 1997, assisted two winners of a competition on the children’s TV show Blue Peter in selecting the contents for the time capsule.

Initially, the box made of wood and enclosed within lead, was buried as part of the hospital’s Variety Club Building’s foundation, which was later opened in 1994. Despite being designed to stay shut for countless centuries, authorities unexpectedly unearthed it before the construction of a new children’s cancer center began.

Remarkably, Diana’s burial of a time capsule in 1991 showed a strong similarity to that of Alexandra of Denmark, a previous Princess of Wales who became Queen Consort, whose time capsule was buried in 1872 as part of the hospital’s founding. However, unlike Diana’s time capsule, Alexandra’s was never unearthed.

The time capsule isn’t the only relic from Diana’s past that has been unearthed recently, either.

Last month, Charles Spencer, her brother, posted an old photograph on social media that showed them together as kids.

61-year-old Charles shared a reminiscent Instagram post this summer, featuring images of himself and his siblings by the pool at Park House, Sandringham during their childhood years. The snapshot displays the Spencer siblings in their swimsuits, with Charles and Diana displaying their earned swimming badges sewn onto their costumes with a sense of pride.

Each year, we spent most of our time in the pool as these accolades (rarely given) were bestowed upon us by Mrs. Lansdowne, an intimidating yet incredibly talented swimming coach. She would visit us annually.

Keep reading for more on Princess Diana…

Diana, the Princess, championed topics once deemed off-limits for the royal family, such as AIDS research, land mine clearance, and homelessness in the U.K. She was a pioneer, being one of the first prominent figures to be photographed showing compassion towards AIDS sufferers – an act that significantly contributed to reducing stigma and fear associated with the disease.

Through Princess Diana’s tragic demise, the role of paparazzi unexpectedly fostered an unprecedented understanding between the royal family and media. After her passing, the palace entered into agreements with British media outlets to prevent photographers from overstepping boundaries in response to public curiosity. Consequently, we now witness more scheduled photo opportunities at the palace, as well as enhanced collaboration on both sides regarding the delicate balance of privacy and public figures’ exposure.

One way to rephrase the given text could be: Diana, perhaps, left an exceptional impact on the royal family through her unparalleled openness about facing public scrutiny. She publicly addressed her battles with mental health issues, such as postpartum depression following the birth of Prince William, and during a notable interview with Martin Bashir from the BBC, she remarked, “Perhaps I was the first one in this family to experience depression or openly cry. And naturally, it was daunting because if you’ve never encountered it before, how can you offer support?

As a lifestyle expert reflecting on years gone by, I find it heartening to witness the Duke of Cambridge, William, and the Duke of Sussex, Harry, carrying forward their mother’s incredible legacy in a powerful way. Together, they have launched Heads Together, an extraordinary campaign that aims to reshape the U.K.’s dialogue on mental health and personal wellness. By doing so, these two remarkable individuals continue to inspire us all with their commitment to promoting open conversations and fostering understanding about this crucial aspect of our overall health and happiness.

The princess continued to influence life within the palace by cultivating unusually relaxed relationships with her royal staff, such as her close friend, Paul Burrell. Her friendship with Burrell, which made headlines, even included arranging play dates between him and Princes William and Harry with the children of her staff members. Additionally, the princess often encouraged her sons to help in the kitchen, potentially influencing Kate Middleton’s decision to cook meals at home for her family.

Princess Diana broke with traditional royal customs by giving birth to both her children outside Buckingham Palace, unlike Prince Charles who was born there decades earlier. This made Prince William the first future British monarch to be born in a hospital on June 21, 1982. Similarly, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge chose to have their children at the same London hospital, St. Mary’s, where they welcomed Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Instead of treating William and Harry like they were above everyone else, as if the world had already elevated them to a pedestal, Princess Diana worked hard to instill a sense of everyday life for them. As her youngest son shared in an interview, “She decided that no matter what challenges came with growing up in such public scrutiny, she would strive to give us as normal a life as possible. That meant occasionally taking us out for burgers, sneaking us into the movies, or cruising through the countryside with the roof down in her old BMW while listening to Enya.

In 1983, when Diana and Prince Charles were about to embark on an official tour of Australia and New Zealand, Diana decided that their son William (who was just 10 months old at the time) should accompany them. This was unusual because royal children usually didn’t travel on these types of trips. However, Diana’s decision to keep her family together is likely why Prince George and Princess Charlotte are always included in overseas trips now.

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2025-08-27 18:19