When Princess Diana sealed a time capsule into the walls of London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1991, few could have imagined it would be reopened one day to reveal a frozen snapshot of an era that existed before the internet. Now, nearly 35 years later, the box has been dug out, revealing a treasure trove of ’90s relics and a bittersweet reminder of Diana’s enduring connection to the hospital and the children she championed.
The capsule, hidden within the wall of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in 1991, was part of a ceremony in which Diana laid the foundation stone of the Variety Club Building. Assisted by two children who won a competition on the BBC’s long-running program Blue Peter, the Princess buried the collection to mark the moment for future generations. The box was intended to remain sealed for centuries, but construction of a new children’s cancer center at GOSH forced its early opening.
Despite some moisture damage, the items inside were intact and painted a vivid portrait of how life looked in the early ‘90s. Among the collections were an early pocket television, a Kylie Minogue CD, a solar-powered calculator, a copy of The Times newspaper, a European passport, and a snowflake hologram. For children of the ’90s, these artifacts carry a wave of nostalgia and for younger generations that came after, this serves as a glimpse into an entirely different world that existed before they came in.
One item that stood out was the Casio TV430, a little television with a two-inch screen and a battery life of only a few hours. At the time, it was the most advanced technology and a priceless possession anyone could ever have. Janet Holmes, a senior health play specialist at GOSH who observed the capsule’s removal, remembered purchasing the gadget for her husband when it was initially released. “It brought back so many memories,” she explained. “They were very expensive then!”
The selection of items were choices of two school-children – David Watson, 11, from Devon, and Sylvia Foulkes, 9, from Norwich, who were tasked with choosing objects that captured the essence of their time. Watson contributed the Kylie Minogue CD, recycled paper, and a European passport, while Foulkes chose coins, tree seeds, and the snowflake hologram. Now in their 40s, the two have not yet commented on seeing their childhood choices resurface.
The discovery also underscores Diana’s deep connection with Great Ormond Street Hospital. She was appointed as its president in 1989 and frequently visited young patients, bringing comfort to their struggles. Her decision to seal the capsule was a gesture both symbolic and forward-looking, tying her legacy to the hospital’s history of innovation and care.
The announcement comes as GOSH launches its most ambitious fundraising drive yet: a £300 million ($403 million) push to create a new cancer centre. The hospital expects that the new facility will revolutionise paediatric care by allowing clinical teams to create kinder, more effective therapies in a setting that promotes play, family, and healing.
When the hospital opened Diana’s time capsule, it not only rediscovered a box of belongings, but also brought back memories of a princess who made an unforgettable effect on both Britain and the rest of the globe. The artefacts serve as a reminder of a bygone era and of Diana’s ongoing role as the “People’s Princess,” tied to the hearts of people, forever.
