Princess Diana 90s time capsule contains Kylie CD and pocket TV
Princess Diana was known for her compassion and her dedication to helping children. In March 1991, she visited Great Ormond Street Hospital, a famous children's hospital in London. During her visit, she wore a stylish blue Chanel suit and spent time talking to a young girl who was playing with play-doh. On that day, Princess Diana took part in a special ceremony where she helped bury a time capsule. A time capsule is a box filled with items from the present, meant to be opened in the future so people can learn about life in the past. This particular time capsule was buried to celebrate the beginning of construction for the hospital's Variety Club Building, which would open a few years later. The box was made of wood and covered in lead to protect the contents. Two children, David Watson and Sylvia Foulkes, won a Blue Peter competition and were chosen to select the items that would go inside the capsule. They picked things that represented life in the 1990s, with help from Princess Diana herself.
Inside the time capsule were ten items, including a CD of Kylie Minogue's album 'Rhythm of Love,' which featured popular songs like 'Better the Devil You Know. ' David, who was 11 years old at the time, chose the CD, a passport, and a sheet of recycled paper. Sylvia, who was 9, picked a collection of British coins, a container with five tree seeds, and a snowflake hologram. Other items included a solar-powered calculator, a pocket-sized Casio TV, a photo of Princess Diana, and a copy of The Times newspaper from the day the capsule was buried. The newspaper had headlines about important world events, such as the Soviet Union and Iraq. The idea was that people in the future would be able to see what technology, music, and news were important in the 1990s.
The time capsule was meant to stay buried for hundreds of years, but it was dug up early to make way for a new children's cancer center at the hospital. When the box was opened, some of the items showed signs of rust and dirt, but most were still in good condition. Staff members who were born in 1991 or who worked at the hospital at that time helped remove the capsule. This event was similar to a ceremony in 1872, when Princess Alexandra, another Princess of Wales, buried a time capsule at the hospital. That older capsule, which contained a photo of Queen Victoria, has never been found. The new cancer center at Great Ormond Street Hospital is expected to become a national resource for treating childhood cancers. Its design will help doctors and nurses develop kinder and more effective treatments for young patients. The story of the time capsule is a reminder of Princess Diana's legacy and her commitment to helping children. It also shows how people in the 1990s wanted to leave a message for the future, sharing what mattered to them and what life was like during that time.
The opening of the time capsule has brought back memories of Princess Diana's visits to the hospital and her efforts to make a difference in the lives of sick children. The items chosen by David and Sylvia reflect the interests and concerns of people in the 1990s, from music and technology to environmental awareness. The pocket TV and solar calculator were examples of the new gadgets people were excited about, while the tree seeds showed a hope for the future and care for the environment. The coins and passport represented travel and daily life, and the photo of Princess Diana captured her role as a beloved figure. As the hospital moves forward with its new cancer center, the story of the time capsule will continue to inspire staff, patients, and visitors, reminding everyone of the importance of kindness, innovation, and hope for the future.
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"A time capsule is a box filled with things from the present, so people in the future can see what life was like."
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