-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KmlsHM400OQyM8KZZihj+c/RcTC9KGkoCPYgEUjuyeYHMLRxMRlhKpSFWfHZ3TIP
 wt/4Qt88YiFWHdRYqpGAGQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922487-03-000084.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0000922487-03-000084.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017193359
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922487-03-000084
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031015
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000922487
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				231627866
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		732 MONTGOMERY AVE
		CITY:			NARBERTH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19072
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6106684700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		732 MONGTOMERY AVENUE
		CITY:			NARBERTH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19072

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TABAS DANIEL M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248789
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26366
		FILM NUMBER:		03946922

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		732 MONTGOMERY AVENUE
		CITY:			NARBERTH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19072
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6106681058

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		732 MONTGOMERY AVENUE
		CITY:			NARBERTH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19072
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000922487</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>rbpaa</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248789</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TABAS DANIEL M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>543 MULBERRY LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAVERFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19041</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania class a common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>53515</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53515</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrI
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d>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6710</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania class a common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6710</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richar
d S. Hannye poa Estate of Daniel M. Tabas</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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