Foundation Stones of Main Post Office and National Museum of Scotland Laid by Prince Albert

Prince Albert lays the foundation stones of both the General Post Office and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh — his final public engagement before his death later that year in 1861.

The ceremony reflects Albert’s enduring interest in public works, science, and civic progress. His passing shortly afterward casts a shadow over the projects, both of which become lasting legacies of the Victorian era and his commitment to cultural development.