-----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,
 JW/M6iwS4xxNtvjmx80ES2pDS+0EBlcFOZGN/obvzpq/e23q7RqdIYRPPQv7UPNm
 pP1XxH8vr89RgVFYFM+4Nw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922487-08-000040.txt : 20080905
<SEC-HEADER>0000922487-08-000040.hdr.sgml : 20080905
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080905123810
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922487-08-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080905
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080905

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:		081058080

	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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-03</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>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3629970</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1579010</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects a private sale of shares to the following family trusts:  2008 Irrevocable Agreement of Trust for the Family of Carol Tabas, 2008 Irrevocable Agreement of Trust for the Family of Susan Tabas Tepper, 2008 Irrevocable Agreement of Trust for the Family of Lee E. Tabas, 2008, Irrevocable Agreement of Trust for the Family of Linda Tabas Stempel, 2008 Irrevocable Agreement of Trust for the Family of Jo Ann Wurzak, and 2008 Irrvvocable Agreement  of Trust for the Family of Robert Royal Tabas.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kimberly Plisinski, Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Power of Attorney for Evelyn R Tabas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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