A Glimpse Into the Past: Princess Diana’s 1991 Time Capsule Unearthed

Princess Diana’s Time Capsule

A Glimpse Into the Past: Princess Diana’s 1991 Time Capsule Unearthed

History quite literally resurfaced at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). A sealed time capsule placed by Princess Diana in 1991 has been unearthed during preparations for a new cancer treatment center.

The capsule, buried when Diana attended the foundation ceremony for the hospital’s Variety Club building, was opened with the help of staff and workers who were either born in 1991 or employed at the hospital that same year.

What was inside?

The capsule contained a fascinating mix of objects reflecting life in the early 1990s:

A pocket-sized portable television

A Kylie Minogue CD

Tree seeds

A solar-powered calculator

A collection of British coins

A holographic snowflake picture

A sheet of recycled paper

A European passport

For many, the standout item was the small portable TV, which evoked memories of a time when technology was just beginning to shrink into handheld form. Janet Holmes, a senior health play specialist who worked at GOSH in 1991, recalled buying a similar set for her then-husband during his breaks as a bus driver—an expensive luxury at the time.

Diana’s legacy lives on

Princess Diana, who became President of Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1989, was renowned for her compassion and frequent visits to sick children. Her involvement in this time capsule project symbolized both hope for the future and a snapshot of daily life during her era.

More than 30 years later, opening the capsule has not only stirred nostalgia but also highlighted Diana’s enduring connection with the hospital and the countless families whose lives she touched.

As one staff member who was born in 1991 said, participating in the unveiling was “a joy and a privilege,” bridging personal history with a shared moment of remembrance.