Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013 Common Class A [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Common 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		10,933,150	2,020,449
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013