Pocket TV, Kylie CD, and a Royal Touch: Diana’s Time Capsule Revealed

A time capsule placed by Princess Diana and two children at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1991 has been unearthed during the demolition of one of the hospital’s buildings. The capsule, intended to remain sealed for centuries, was opened ahead of schedule to make way for the construction of a new children’s cancer center.

The time capsule, embedded in the hospital’s wall over three decades ago, was the result of a nationwide competition run by the beloved British children’s television show Blue Peter.

Viewers were invited to vote for eight items that best represented life in the early 1990s. The winning contents painted a picture of a pre-internet world: an early model of a pocket television, a solar-powered calculator, a copy of The Times newspaper, a passport, a photograph of Princess Diana, and a Kylie Minogue CD among them.

Two young competition winners assisted Princess Diana in placing the box within the hospital’s structure on a Wednesday in 1991. Though some items suffered damage due to being underground for 35 years, hospital staff say most of the contents remained remarkably well preserved.

Princess Diana became president of Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1989 and made several visits during her tenure. Her involvement in the time capsule project symbolized her commitment to children’s health and well-being. The capsule was meant to offer future generations a glimpse into life at the turn of the decade.

Diana’s legacy remains deeply connected to the hospital. Her death in a car accident in Paris in 1997 was mourned worldwide, and moments like the unearthing of the time capsule serve as poignant reminders of her enduring impact.

The items are currently being examined and considered for display as part of a commemorative exhibit on the hospital’s history and Princess Diana’s role in it.