Princess Diana's 1990s Time Capsule Unearthed at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Princess Diana's 1991 time capsule, sealed with items representing 1990s life, was recently opened at Great Ormond Street Hospital, revealing memorabilia like a Kylie CD and passport.
Overview
- Princess Diana sealed a time capsule in 1991 at Great Ormond Street Hospital, containing 10 items chosen by children to represent life in the 1990s, including a Kylie Minogue CD and a passport.
- The lead-encased wooden box was buried to mark the foundation stone laying of the hospital's Variety Club Building, which officially opened three years later in 1994.
- Decades later, the time capsule was unearthed to make way for a new children's cancer center at GOSH, which will serve as a national resource for childhood cancer treatment.
- Archivists revealed the contents, which also included a pocket TV, a snowflake hologram, British coins, tree seeds, and a photo of Princess Diana, noting some damage but largely intact items.
- Princess Diana served as president of Great Ormond Street Hospital from 1989, making multiple visits before her death in 1997, connecting her deeply with the institution and its mission.
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Analysis
"The capsule 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 Times newspaper."
NBC News"The time capsule buried by Diana, Princess of Wales at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been opened, revealing a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator and a passport, showcasing a nostalgic glimpse into the 1990s."
BBC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
The time capsule contained 10 items chosen by children, including a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator, a pocket TV, a European passport, British coins, tree seeds in a bottle, a snowflake hologram, a sheet of recycled paper, a photograph of Princess Diana, and a copy of The Times newspaper from the day the capsule was buried.
The time capsule was originally intended to remain buried for hundreds of years, but it was unearthed to clear space for the construction of a new children's cancer center at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The items were chosen by two children who won a Blue Peter competition hosted by the BBC, with Princess Diana assisting them in selecting objects that represented life in the 1990s.
Princess Diana served as the hospital's president starting in 1989 and made multiple visits before her death in 1997, establishing a deep connection to the institution and its mission.
The new children's cancer center is expected to be a national resource dedicated to the treatment of childhood cancers and has prompted the hospital's largest-ever fundraising campaign.
History
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