-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 DgI/VkghtMK+eU8FLYFrOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922487-04-000078.txt : 20041203
<SEC-HEADER>0000922487-04-000078.hdr.sgml : 20041203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041203162214
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922487-04-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041203

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:			STEMPEL MUARRY III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248788
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26366
		FILM NUMBER:		041184058

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000922487</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBPAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248788</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEMPEL MUARRY III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>633 ROBINSON LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAVERFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19041</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1002</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13417</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.275</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1002</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1996-04-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-04-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1002</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14714</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James J. McSwiggan, Executive Vice President, Royal Bank America, as  Power of Attorney for Murray Stempel, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----