A wooden box sealed by Princess Diana in 1991 has been excavated from beneath Great Ormond Street Hospital, decades ahead of schedule.
The time capsule was removed to clear space for a new Children's Cancer Centre at the specialist paediatric facility.
Hospital staff discovered the lead-encased container earlier this year during preparatory work for the redevelopment.
The capsule had been intended to remain buried for centuries, preserving a snapshot of early 1990s life for future generations.
The content of a time capsule sealed by Princess Diana in 1991 have been revealed
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Jason Dawson, executive director of Space and Place, described the excavation process as "really quite moving" and likened it to "connecting with memories of things that have been planted by a generation gone by."
The capsule was revealed to contain an eclectic collection of early 1990s memorabilia selected by two youngsters who had won a Blue Peter contest.
David Watson, then 11 years old from Paignton, Devon, contributed Kylie Minogue's "Rhythm of Love" CD, recycled paper and a European passport.
Nine-year-old Sylvia Foulkes from Norwich picked British coins marking decimalisation's 20th anniversary, a container holding five tree seeds from Kew Gardens, and a holographic snowflake image.
Diana sealed away the time capsule to save a snapshot of life in the early 1990's
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Additional contents included a miniature colour television set, a solar-powered calculator and a photograph of Diana herself.
A copy of The Times from the burial date featured headlines about Soviet elections and Iraqi military developments.
Diana had assumed the presidency of Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1989, becoming the institution's most celebrated royal patron.
The position had been specially revived for her, having previously been held by Mary, the then Princess Royal.
A host of treasures including a Kylie Minogue CD and solar powered calculator were found inside
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Throughout her tenure, Diana made frequent visits to the children's hospital, including a Christmas appearance with Prince Charles in 1987.
She participated in fundraising swimathons and tennis tournaments whilst meeting long-term patients.
During the 1991 capsule ceremony, Diana reportedly told one father of a 13-month-old patient: "I would love a little girl. I am wondering if the world is ready for another me."
The excavated items showed signs of deterioration after three decades underground, with water damage affecting some contents despite protective plastic wrapping.
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Diana assumed the presidency of Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1989
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Letters penned by the young competition winners suffered humidity damage and are currently undergoing restoration by archivists.
Hospital officials plan to establish a new time capsule beneath the completed cancer centre, maintaining a royal tradition dating back to 1872.
That year, Alexandra, then Princess of Wales, buried her own capsule containing a Times newspaper and a photograph of Queen Victoria in a glass jar, though it remains undiscovered.
The new Children's Cancer Centre will serve as a national facility for developing gentler, more effective paediatric cancer treatments.