A time capsule buried by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1991 at Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) has been unearthed, revealing a collection of items that captured the spirit of the early 1990s. Among the contents were Kylie Minogue’s Rhythm of Love CD, a solar-powered calculator, a pocket TV, and a British passport, all carefully chosen by two children through a Blue Peter competition.
The capsule, sealed inside a lead-lined wooden box, was originally intended to remain buried for hundreds of years. It was unearthed earlier than planned to make way for the construction of a new children’s cancer centre at Gosh. Despite some signs of damage, most of the items remain intact, including a photo of Princess Diana, British coins, tree seeds, a snowflake hologram, recycled paper, and a copy of The Times newspaper from the day of burial. Headlines included coverage of then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the Gulf War.
Princess Diana, who became president of Gosh in 1989, worked alongside the two competition winners — David Watson, aged 11, and Sylvia Foulkes, aged 9 — to select the 10 objects. Their choices were designed to reflect everyday life and culture in the 1990s, with Watson selecting Minogue’s album and a passport, while Foulkes chose coins, seeds, and the hologram.
The unearthing of the capsule echoes a similar ceremony in 1872 when Princess Alexandra, then Princess of Wales, buried another time capsule at the hospital. That earlier capsule, believed to contain a photo of Queen Victoria, has never been found. Archivists at Gosh say this latest discovery offers a rare glimpse into cultural history and Princess Diana’s enduring connection to the hospital.
The newly built children’s cancer centre at Gosh, which prompted the excavation, is expected to become a leading national hub for childhood cancer treatment. According to hospital officials, its design will help clinical teams develop “kinder, more effective treatments” for young patients, continuing the hospital’s long tradition of innovation and care.
