The Prince Albert piercing (PA) is a form of body piercing. The PA pierces the penis from the outside of the frenulum and into the urethra. There is also a reverse PA piercing which enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans. The piercer uses a reception tube placed into the urethra to ensure needle exit.
A nerve bundle runs along the center of the frenulum. While some piercers may choose to avoid the bundle, others do not. The piercing may be centered if the bearer is circumcised. Otherwise, the piercing will be done to the side because the skin in the area needs to be able to radically reposition itself.
The Prince Albert piercing is apparently named after Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. It is alleged that he wore a ring attached to his penis which was then strapped to his thigh, in order to maintain the smooth line of the tight trousers that were in fashion at the time. It is very difficult to ascertain the validity of this myth. No contempory account of him adopting the practice has come to light. It has also been suggested that the name actually refers to Queen Victoria's grandson Prince Albert Victor. This theory probably stems from attempts to link Prince Albert Victor with the Jack the Ripper murders.
The PA heals more quickly than most other piercings. Despite a popular belief that urine is infested with germs, a healthy person's urine is actually nearly sterile until it exits the body. Some believe that the frequent bathing of the piercing with (sterile) urine contributes to the healing process. Infections of Prince Alberts are relatively rare. Initial healing typically takes from one to two weeks, with full healing taking as much as nine months or more.
Some men find that the dribble caused by the PA when urinating necessitates sitting down to urinate. This is not, as might be suspected, due to the hole made during piercing, but rather is caused by urine travelling along the surface of the jewelry. The effect may be exaggerated by different sizes and styles of jewelry. This is usually not a problem when using urinals.
Another common misconception is that the PA is a painful piercing because of the high concentration of nerves in the area. However, nerves are specialized in their function, so the high concentration of nerve cells does not prove a higher sensitivity to pain. Anecdotal reports from people with PAs is that it is not particularly painful, although psychological state, adrenaline, and one's pain threshold all affect this judgment.
Prince Alberts are sometimes stretched to a 0 or 00 gauge (about 11/32") diameter. Prince Alberts typically are pierced at either 12 or 10 gauge. In the case of a 12 awg piercing, they are usually either immediately stretched, or stretched after partial or full healing. Outside of this initial stage, they are rarely seen below a 10 gauge. Stretching to sizes of 6 to 4 gauge is probably most common.
Jewelry usually worn in a PA include the curved barbell, captive bead, and the Prince's Wand. Short curved barbells are usually about 3/8" or so length, so one ball sits on the lower side of the penis and the other ball sits at the urethral opening. This type of jewelry prevents discomfort that can come from larger jewelry moving around during daily wear.
The Prince's Wand is a particularly unusual piece of jewelry. It consists of a hollow tube with a threaded cap at the end. The tube is inserted into the urethra, and a stem is inserted through the PA piercing and into another threaded hole on the side of the tube. The general shape is similar to a policeman's nightstick. The little side stem holds the tube in place. The threaded cap, often just a ball, can be removed so the wearer can urinate through the hollow tube without having to remove the jewelry.
