-----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,
 BZvScFL4kC+eKc0GIxeMQoww6NObd5O0SUsBCF03dOohBo45f5J9t7iWkf64NeZe
 CX2phuLISY3qHhHRpQdpfg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922487-09-000008.txt : 20090720
<SEC-HEADER>0000922487-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20090719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090720141918
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922487-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090720
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090720
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHARDS ROBERT A JR.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001468617

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26366
		FILM NUMBER:		09952835

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		732 MONTGOMERY AVENUE
		CITY:			NARBERTH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19083

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001468617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RICHARDS ROBERT A JR.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4 KENDLES RUN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORRESTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA  CLASS A COMMON</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>KIMBERLY PLISINSKI, ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA, AS POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR ROBERT A. RICHARDS JR.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----