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  • Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Princess Diana 90s time capsule contains Kylie CD and pocket TV

time capsule

A time capsule buried by Diana, Princess of Wales, more than 30 years ago has been unearthed at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) during the construction of a new children’s cancer centre.

The lead-encased wooden box was originally sealed in 1991, when Diana — then President of GOSH — laid the foundation stone for the hospital’s Variety Club Building, which opened in 1994.

Inside were carefully chosen items meant to capture the spirit of the early 1990s, selected with the help of two children who won a Blue Peter competition.

What Was Inside the Capsule?

Among the items preserved were:

  • A Kylie Minogue CD (Rhythm of Love, 1990), featuring hits such as Better the Devil You Know

  • An octagon-powered calculator

  • A pocket TV

  • A snowflake hologram

  • A set of British coins

  • A box of five tree seeds

  • A sheet of recycled paper

  • A passport

  • A copy of The Times newspaper from 1991, with headlines on Soviet politics and the Gulf conflict

  • A photograph of Princess Diana

Despite some wear, archivists said the majority of the objects remain in good condition.

Diana’s Role

Diana became President of GOSH in 1989 and was closely involved in supporting the hospital until her death in 1997. For the capsule project, she helped the two children — David Watson, 11, from Devon, and Sylvia Foulkes, 9, from Norwich — select items that reflected everyday life and culture at the time.

The ceremony echoed a similar moment in 1872, when Princess Alexandra (the then Princess of Wales) laid a foundation stone at the hospital and sealed her own capsule, which contained a photograph of Queen Victoria.

Looking Forward

The capsule was reopened earlier than originally intended, as part of works for GOSH’s new children’s cancer centre, described by the hospital as a “national resource for childhood cancer treatment.”

The hospital said its modern design would help medical teams develop “kinder, more effective treatments” for young patients.

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