Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012 Class A [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000922487
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		10,871,454	2,074,099
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012