Princess Diana’s 1990s Time Capsule Unearthed at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Published: 27 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

A time capsule buried by Diana, Princess of Wales, at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in 1991 has been opened, revealing a fascinating glimpse into the 1990s, including a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator, and a passport. The lead-encased wooden box, originally sealed to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the hospital’s Variety Club Building—which officially opened in 1994—was meant to remain untouched for “hundreds of years.” However, it was exhumed to make way for the construction of a new children’s cancer centre.

Princess Diana, who became president of GOSH in 1989, personally helped select the items to be placed in the capsule alongside two children who had won a Blue Peter competition. The items were intended to reflect everyday life and popular culture of the 1990s. Among the ten objects included were a pocket TV, a snowflake hologram, and a photograph of Princess Diana herself.

The Kylie Minogue CD, featuring tracks from her 1990 Rhythm of Love album such as “Better the Devil You Know,” “What Do I Have to Do,” and “Shocked,” was chosen by David Watson, then aged 11, from Paignton, Devon. He also selected a sheet of recycled paper and a passport. Sylvia Foulkes, then aged nine from Norwich, contributed a collection of British coins, a container holding five tree seeds, and the snowflake hologram.

The time capsule also contained a copy of The Times newspaper from the day it was buried. Its headlines offer a vivid snapshot of the era, including “Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves,” alongside a photograph of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and “US rejects Iraqi warplanes plea as rebels close in.” While some items show minor signs of wear, archivists report that the majority remain largely intact. Hospital staff, including those born in 1991 or already employed at the hospital at the time, assisted in carefully removing the capsule.

The burial ceremony echoed a historic tradition at GOSH, reminiscent of an event in 1872 when the then Princess of Wales, Alexandra, laid a foundation stone and sealed a time capsule. That earlier capsule, which included a photograph of Queen Victoria, has yet to be found.

The new children’s cancer centre at GOSH, for which the capsule was removed, is being designed as a national hub for the treatment of childhood cancers. According to the hospital, its design aims to enable clinical teams to develop “kinder, more effective treatments” for children during their stay, blending cutting-edge medical care with a nurturing and supportive environment.

The discovery of Princess Diana’s time capsule not only revives memories of her enduring legacy at GOSH but also offers a nostalgic snapshot of the 1990s, connecting past and present generations in the hospital’s ongoing mission to care for children.