More than three decades after it was sealed away, a time capsule buried by Princess Diana at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital has been opened, revealing a delightful snapshot of life in 1991—complete with a Kylie Minogue CD and some wonderfully outdated technology that will transport anyone over 60 straight back to the early nineties.
The lead-encased wooden box, discovered during construction work for a new children's cancer centre, contained ten carefully chosen items meant to represent the 1990s.
The capsule was placed inside a wall at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 1991 with the help of two children who won a TV competition. Among the treasures: an early pocket TV, a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator and a copy of The Times newspaper.
When Diana was the people's princess
The late British royal—who became president of GOSH in 1989 and visited the hospital several times before her death in 1997—helped two kids who won a competition run by British children's TV show Blue Peter pick the items included in the time capsule. But Diana's connection to Great Ormond Street went far deeper than a ceremonial role.
As Great Ormond Street Hospital's president from 1989 until her death, Diana played a central role in GOSH's Wishing Well Appeal, raising A$112 million— equivalent to A$440 million today—considered the largest U.K. charity appeal at the time.
She wasn't just a figurehead—Princess Diana famously made regular ward visits, sitting on children's beds, holding hands and providing physical comfort at a time when many feared contact with seriously ill patients.
'It brought back so many memories seeing the pocket TV in there — I had bought one for my husband back in the day'
The children who chose the future's past
The most charming aspect of this story lies with the two young competition winners who made these selections. David Watson, then age 11, from Devon in western England, chose the Kylie Minogue CD, a sheet of recycled paper and a European passport.
A collection of British coins, a container with five tree seeds and a snowflake hologram were the choices of Sylvia Foulkes, then age 9, from Norwich in eastern England.
It's unclear what the children, who would both now be in their 40s, thought of the opening. The hospital told NBC News that it was no longer in touch with them.
One can only imagine their surprise at seeing their childhood choices making headlines around the world in 2025.
For Australian readers, David's choice of the Kylie Minogue CD is particularly poignant. Rhythm of Love was released in Australia on 3 December 1990 and peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Albums chart in March 1991—right around the time these items were being sealed away.
Kylie promoted the album with her Rhythm of Love Tour in Australia and Asia from February to March 1991, and later that year, the album was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 70,000 copies.
What was cutting-edge in 1991
The time capsule perfectly captures the technology that amazed us in 1991:
• Casio pocket TV: Portable television was revolutionary
• Solar-powered calculators: Green technology was starting to emerge
• CDs: Still relatively new—they only overtook cassettes in 1991
• Recycled paper: Environmental consciousness was growing
• European passports: The EU was still taking shape
A tradition dating back to Queen Victoria
Interestingly, Diana's 1991 time capsule burial bore striking resemblance to that of Alexandra of Denmark—a former Princess of Wales and later Queen Consort—from 1872, which was included as part of the hospital's original foundation—though Alexandra's was never uncovered.
That earlier capsule, sealed during the reign of Queen Victoria, remains one of Great Ormond Street's enduring mysteries.
The parallels between the two ceremonies highlight the deep connection between the Royal Family and this remarkable children's hospital. Both were the appeal's patrons, and publicity materials made much of the fact that Charles had gone to GOSH to have his appendix removed as a child.
Technology that time forgot
Opening the capsule in 2025, hospital staff were struck by how much the world has changed. CDs, however, were then relatively new: They surpassed cassettes and LPs as the leading music format in the United States only in 1991.
The Casio pocket TV, once the height of portable technology, now seems almost quaint in an era of smartphones and streaming.
One hospital staff member, senior health play specialist Janet Holmes, said: 'It brought back so many memories seeing the pocket TV in there—I had bought one for my husband back in the day, for when he had a break whilst driving his coach around the country. They were very expensive then!' she recalled.
Diana's lasting impact on Great Ormond Street
- Raised A$112 million (equivalent to A$414 million today) - the largest UK charity appeal ever
- Made regular personal visits to comfort sick children and their families
- Continued visiting even after her divorce, when she reduced her charity work to just six causes
- Her fundraising approach set the standard for NHS hospital campaigns
- After her divorce in 1996, Great Ormond Street remained one of only six charities she supported
The headlines that defined an era
The time capsule also contained a copy of The Times from the burial date, with headlines that perfectly capture 1991's pivotal moment in history. Headlines on its front page include: 'Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves' - alongside a photo of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev—and 'US rejects Iraqi warplanes plea as rebels close in'.
These headlines remind us that 1991 was the year the Cold War finally ended and the Gulf War played out on our television screens—the first war many of us watched live on CNN.
A poignant discovery
The hospital asked staff members either born in 1991 or already working there in 1991 to help remove the capsule. The hospital's executive director, Jason Dawson, said unearthing the relics was 'almost like connecting with memories of things that have been planted by a generation gone by.'
The time capsule was meant to be unearthed in 'hundreds of years' but was dug up to make way for the construction of a children's cancer centre. The capsule was uncovered as part of preparations for GOSH's A$622 million Children's Cancer Centre, which will replace outdated facilities.
Did you know?
Did you know?
The new cancer centre that necessitated opening the capsule will enhance the hospital's capacity to help seriously ill children from around the world, continuing Diana's legacy of care.
The continuing legacy
After her divorce in 1996, Diana reduced her charitable commitments from over 100 organizations to just six focused causes, with Great Ormond Street Hospital being one of the remaining ones.
Stephen Lee, director of the U.K. Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers, called her impact 'probably more significant than any other person's in the 20th century.'[/p]Today, Great Ormond Street, known as GOSH, is the U.K.'s leading children's hospital and a major center for pediatric research in Europe. The new cancer centre that necessitated opening the capsule will enhance the hospital's capacity to help seriously ill children from around the world.
What This Means For You
The discovery of Diana's time capsule serves as a touching reminder of her genuine compassion and the lasting impact one person can have. Those vintage items from 1991—from Kylie's pop anthems to primitive portable technology—have become precious artifacts of both personal memory and royal history.
What items would you have chosen to represent 1991? Share your memories of that remarkable year in the comments below—we'd love to hear what defined the early nineties for you.
Original Article
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ond-street-hospital-kylie-minogue-cd-passport
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: The capsule was placed inside a wall at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 1991 with the help of two children who won a TV competition.
Excerpt: The capsule was placed inside a wall at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 1991 with the help of two children who won a TV competition.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: It contained relics of a pre-internet-enabled age, including an early pocket TV, a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator and a copy of The Time...
Excerpt: an early pocket TV, a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator and a copy of The Times newspaper.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana's Time Capsule Opened 34 Years Later: Here's What’s Inside
Cited text: In the early ‘90s, the late British royal—who became president of GOSH in 1989 and visited the hospital several times before her death in 1997—helped ...
Excerpt: The late British royal—who became president of GOSH in 1989 and visited the hospital several times before her death in 1997—helped two kids who won a competition run by British children's TV show Blue Peter pick the items included in the…
https://www.eonline.com/news/1421698/princess-dianas-time-capsule-opened-34-years-later
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years
Cited text: As Great Ormond Street Hospital’s president from 1989 until her death, Diana played a central role in GOSH’s Wishing Well Appeal, raising £54 million ...
Excerpt: As Great Ormond Street Hospital's president from 1989 until her death, Diana played a central role in GOSH's Wishing Well Appeal, raising £54 million — equivalent to £200 million today—considered the largest U.K…
https://www.myclallamcounty.com/202...cess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years | News/Talk 1540 KXEL
Cited text: As Great Ormond Street Hospital’s president from 1989 until her death, Diana played a central role in GOSH’s Wishing Well Appeal, raising £54 million ...
Excerpt: As Great Ormond Street Hospital's president from 1989 until her death, Diana played a central role in GOSH's Wishing Well Appeal, raising £54 million — equivalent to £200 million today—considered the largest U.K…
https://kxel.com/2025/08/27/time-ca...ess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years/
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years
Cited text: Princess Diana famously made regular ward visits, sitting on children’s beds, holding hands and providing physical comfort at a time when many feared ...
Excerpt: Princess Diana famously made regular ward visits, sitting on children's beds, holding hands and providing physical comfort at a time when many feared contact with seriously ill patients.
https://www.myclallamcounty.com/202...cess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: The Times newspaper and a solar-powered calculator.Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children · The CD was the choice of David Watson, then age 11, fro...
Excerpt: David Watson, then age 11, from Devon in western England, chose the Kylie Minogue CD, a sheet of recycled paper and a European passport.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: It's unclear what the children, who would both now be in their 40s, thought of the opening. The hospital told NBC News that it was no longer in touch ...
Excerpt: It's unclear what the children, who would both now be in their 40s, thought of the opening.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Rhythm of Love (Kylie Minogue album) - Wikipedia
Cited text: Rhythm of Love was released in the UK on 12 November by PWL and in Australia on 3 December 1990 by Mushroom Records.
Excerpt: Rhythm of Love was released in Australia on 3 December 1990 and peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Albums chart in March 1991
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_of_Love_(Kylie_Minogue_album)
Rhythm of Love (Kylie Minogue album) - Wikipedia
Cited text: When Minogue was promoting the album with her Rhythm of Love Tour, it peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Albums chart in the week of 10 March 1991, becom...
Excerpt: Rhythm of Love was released in Australia on 3 December 1990 and peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Albums chart in March 1991
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_of_Love_(Kylie_Minogue_album)
Rhythm of Love (Kylie Minogue album) - Wikipedia
Cited text: In Australia and Asia, Minogue promoted the album with her Rhythm of Love Tour, which was sponsored by Coca-Cola, from February to March 1991.
Excerpt: Kylie promoted the album with her Rhythm of Love Tour in Australia and Asia from February to March 1991, and later that year, the album was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 70,000 copies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_of_Love_(Kylie_Minogue_album)
Rhythm of Love (Kylie Minogue album) - Wikipedia
Cited text: Later that year, Rhythm of Love was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling 70,000 copies in Australia....
Excerpt: Kylie promoted the album with her Rhythm of Love Tour in Australia and Asia from February to March 1991, and later that year, the album was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 70,000 copies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_of_Love_(Kylie_Minogue_album)
Princess Diana's Time Capsule Opened 34 Years Later: Here's What’s Inside
Cited text: Interestingly, Diana's 1991 time capsule burial bore striking resemblance to that of Alexandra of Denmark—a former Princess of Wales and later Queen C...
Excerpt: Interestingly, Diana's 1991 time capsule burial bore striking resemblance to that of Alexandra of Denmark—a former Princess of Wales and later Queen Consort—from 1872, which was included as part of the hospital's original foundation—though…
https://www.eonline.com/news/1421698/princess-dianas-time-capsule-opened-34-years-later
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: She was following royal tradition: A former Princess of Wales, Alexandria, laid the foundation stone for an older GOSH building in 1872 and also seale...
Excerpt: Interestingly, Diana's 1991 time capsule burial bore striking resemblance to that of Alexandra of Denmark—a former Princess of Wales and later Queen Consort—from 1872, which was included as part of the hospital's original foundation—though…
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Charles, Diana, and Great Ormond Street Hospital—BORDER CROSSINGS: Charity and Voluntarism in Britain’s mixed economy of health care since 1948
Cited text: Both were the appeal’s patrons, and publicity materials made much of the fact that Charles had gone to GOSH to have his appendix removed as a child.
Excerpt: Both were the appeal's patrons, and publicity materials made much of the fact that Charles had gone to GOSH to have his appendix removed as a child.
https://more.bham.ac.uk/border-crossings/2025/02/05/charles-diana-and-great-ormond-street-hospital/
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: The Kylie Minogue CD.Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children · CDs, however, were then relatively new: They surpassed cassettes and LPs as the leadi...
Excerpt: CDs, however, were then relatively new: They surpassed cassettes and LPs as the leading music format in the United States only in 1991.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: One of the latter, senior health play specialist Janet Holmes, said: 'It brought back so many memories seeing the pocket TV in there — I had bought on...
Excerpt: One hospital staff member, senior health play specialist Janet Holmes, said: 'It brought back so many memories seeing the pocket TV in there — I had bought one for my husband back in the day, for when he had a break whilst driving his…
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana’s 1990s time capsule opened at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: They were very expensive then!” she recalled.
Excerpt: They were very expensive then!' she recalled.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/princess-diana-1990s-time-capsule-102735454.html
Princess Diana 90s time capsule contains Kylie CD and pocket TV
Cited text: Headlines on its front page include: 'Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves' - alongside a photo of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - ...
Excerpt: Headlines on its front page include: 'Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves' - alongside a photo of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev—and 'US rejects Iraqi warplanes plea as rebels close in'.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/princess-diana-90s-time-capsule-044413876.html
Princess Diana left behind a time capsule; it has now been opened « Euro Weekly News
Cited text: Headlines on its front page include: “Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves”, a photo of the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and “US ...
Excerpt: Headlines on its front page include: 'Cooked meats bring out Soviet voters in droves' - alongside a photo of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev—and 'US rejects Iraqi warplanes plea as rebels close in'.
https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/08/...behind-a-time-capsule-it-has-now-been-opened/
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: A portable TV.Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children · The hospital asked staff members either born in 1991 or already working there in 1991 to hel...
Excerpt: The hospital asked staff members either born in 1991 or already working there in 1991 to help remove the capsule.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
Princess Diana 90s time capsule contains Kylie CD and pocket TV
Cited text: A Casio pocket TV was also included in the time capsule [Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children] Staff who were either born in 1991 or were already...
Excerpt: The hospital asked staff members either born in 1991 or already working there in 1991 to help remove the capsule.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/princess-diana-90s-time-capsule-044413876.html
Princess Diana’s Time Capsule Has Been Unearthed After Nearly 35 Years
Cited text: The hospital’s executive director, Jason Dawson, said unearthing the relics was “almost like connecting with memories of things that have been planted...
Excerpt: The hospital's executive director, Jason Dawson, said unearthing the relics was 'almost like connecting with memories of things that have been planted by a generation gone by.'
https://www.aol.com/princess-diana-time-capsule-unearthed-211932886.html
Princess Diana’s 1991 Time Capsule Is Dug up and Gives a Nostalgic Glimpse Into Her Life
Cited text: The capsule wasn’t set to be excavated for hundreds of years, but it got an early open date due to the hospital’s construction on a new children’s can...
Excerpt: The time capsule was meant to be unearthed in 'hundreds of years' but was dug up to make way for the construction of a children's cancer centre.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment...incess-diana-1991-time-capsule-174321425.html
Princess Diana 90s time capsule contains Kylie CD and pocket TV
Cited text: The time capsule was meant to be unearthed in 'hundreds of years' but was dug up to make way for the construction of a children's cancer centre.
Excerpt: The time capsule was meant to be unearthed in 'hundreds of years' but was dug up to make way for the construction of a children's cancer centre.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/princess-diana-90s-time-capsule-044413876.html
Princess Diana’s 1990s time capsule opened at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: The capsule was uncovered as part of preparations for GOSH’s £300 million Children’s Cancer Centre, which will replace outdated facilities.
Excerpt: The capsule was uncovered as part of preparations for GOSH's £300 million Children's Cancer Centre, which will replace outdated facilities.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/princess-diana-1990s-time-capsule-102735454.html
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years
Cited text: After her divorce in 1996, Diana reduced her charitable commitments from over 100 organizations to just six focused causes, with Great Ormond Street H...
Excerpt: After her divorce in 1996, Diana reduced her charitable commitments from over 100 organizations to just six focused causes, with Great Ormond Street Hospital being one of the remaining ones.
https://www.myclallamcounty.com/202...cess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years | News/Talk 1540 KXEL
Cited text: After her divorce in 1996, Diana reduced her charitable commitments from over 100 organizations to just six focused causes, with Great Ormond Street H...
Excerpt: After her divorce in 1996, Diana reduced her charitable commitments from over 100 organizations to just six focused causes, with Great Ormond Street Hospital being one of the remaining ones.
https://kxel.com/2025/08/27/time-ca...ess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years/
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in London opened up after 34 years | News/Talk 1540 KXEL
Cited text: Stephen Lee, director of the U.K. Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers, called her impact “probably more significant than any other person’s in t...
Excerpt: Stephen Lee, director of the U.K. Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers, called her impact 'probably more significant than any other person's in the 20th century.'
https://kxel.com/2025/08/27/time-ca...ess-diana-in-london-opened-up-after-34-years/
Princess Diana 90s time capsule is revealed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Cited text: Great Ormond Street, known as GOSH, is the U.K.’s leading children’s hospital and a major center for pediatric research in Europe.
Excerpt: Great Ormond Street, known as GOSH, is the U.K.'s leading children's hospital and a major center for pediatric research in Europe.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/unite...ealed-great-ormond-street-hospital-rcna227427
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