-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AQAasn0uTbeIuPtslADGczr8QGfgEGMI/1rnvAd9XQG1/AKYN5oNt/qW+YFJ54FC
 OoNgN4R28Hpla41W/qY52A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-06-016946.txt : 20061122
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-06-016946.hdr.sgml : 20061122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061122160547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-06-016946
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061122

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XL CAPITAL LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURETY INSURANCE [6351]
		IRS NUMBER:				980191089
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		XL HOUSE
		STREET 2:		ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON HM11 BERMUD
		STATE:			D2
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412928515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL(IMMANUEL KOHN)
		STREET 2:		80 PINE STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORKI
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXEL LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THORNTON JOHN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184407

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10804
		FILM NUMBER:		061236599

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		157 WAPOOS TRAIL
		CITY:			CHATHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02633
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5089455437
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XL CAPITAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184407</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THORNTON JOHN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>157 WAPOOS TRAIL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02633</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39878.93</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-05-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sarah Fox, Attorney-in-fact for John T. Thornton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----