-----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,
 WbKxtEbA8ObaktxZKZUH9innkORxjSWxJx8clso0QfhyOtAA4lBSWr66JvfXYX81
 r6zlMjHJH5c6JtUROMhO9A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922487-08-000019.txt : 20080527
<SEC-HEADER>0000922487-08-000019.hdr.sgml : 20080526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080527162353
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922487-08-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080527

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 EVELYN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248796
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26366
		FILM NUMBER:		08861020

	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>2008-05-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TABAS EVELYN</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>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA CLASS A COMMON</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1574010</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kimberly Plisinski, Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Power of Attorney for Evelyn R Tabas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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