A time capsule buried by Princess Diana at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1991 has been opened, revealing a snapshot of life in the 1990s. The lead-encased wooden box was laid for the foundation stone of the hospital’s Variety Club Building, which would open in 1994, and was intended to be unearthed “hundreds of years” later.
Two children who won a Blue Peter competition helped select the items, with the aim of capturing a sense of the era. Among the contents are a Kylie Minogue CD from Rhythm of Love (1990), chosen by David Watson, then 11, from Paignton, along with a passport and a sheet of recycled paper. Sylvia Foulkes, then 9, from Norwich, picked a collection of British coins, a container with five tree seeds, and a snowflake hologram. The box also contained a solar-powered calculator, a Casio pocket TV, a Times newspaper dated to the day of the burial, and a photograph of Princess Diana herself.
Archivists noted some minor damage to objects, but most items remain largely intact. The capsule also included items such as a Times front page bearing headlines about global events of the era and a selection of other mementos, including a photo of Diana.
Diana, Princess of Wales, had become president of Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1989 and visited the hospital several times before her untimely death in 1997. She helped the two children choose what to include, underscoring her long-standing commitment to the hospital and to pediatric care.
The time capsule was buried to commemorate the foundation of the Variety Club Building and to symbolize a lasting link between the hospital and the public. The new children’s cancer centre planned for GOSH is billed as a national resource for the treatment of childhood cancers, with design aims to help clinical teams develop kinder, more effective treatments for young patients.
The discovery offers a tangible link to the 1990s and to Diana’s charitable legacy at the hospital, while highlighting ongoing efforts to advance pediatric oncology. The capsule’s unearthing also serves as a reminder of how community projects, once sealed in time, can reappear to inspire future generations.
Summary: The 1991 time capsule from Great Ormond Street Hospital, opened to reveal a mix of pop culture items, everyday objects, and personal memorabilia chosen by school-age contributors, reflects a decade of life and Diana’s enduring philanthropic influence. The reveal coincides with plans for a new national pediatric cancer centre that aims to improve treatment and care for children. A hopeful note is that the hospital’s ongoing work may build on this preserved moment to benefit future patients. If you’re looking for a positive angle, the capsule illustrates how collaboration between institutions, families, and the public can create a lasting legacy for a vulnerable population.
Note: This rewrite emphasizes the facts and structure of the original story, while adding context about Diana’s ongoing involvement with GOSH and the significance of the new cancer centre. If you’d like, I can tailor the tone for a specific section of the site or add a brief quote from hospital representatives.