Princess Diana’s 1991 Time Capsule Unearthed in London During hospital Expansion
LONDON – A time capsule buried by Princess Diana and children who won a Blue Peter television competition in 1991 was unexpectedly discovered during construction for a new children’s cancer hospital in central London, The Guardian reports. The capsule, intended to remain hidden for centuries, was unearthed decades early due to the building project.
The “Variety Club” capsule, overseen by Princess Diana in her role as hospital president, contained ten items chosen to represent life in the 1990s. These included a Kylie Minogue disc, a photograph of the Princess herself, a copy of the Times newspaper featuring Mikhail Gorbachev – the last Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee – and documents like the European Passport and a “Solar passport.” A hologram representing solar power was also among the contents of the lead-covered wooden box.The discovery echoes a similar event from 1872, when the then Princess of Wales, Princess Alexandra, laid the foundation stone and sealed a time capsule at Great Ormond Street Hospital. That earlier capsule, however, remains lost. The unearthing of Diana’s capsule offers a poignant glimpse into a decade marked by meaningful political and cultural shifts, and a reminder of the Princess’s commitment to children’s healthcare. Princess Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, cementing her legacy as a beloved figure.
