<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001424613</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000085535</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>ROYAL GOLD INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-13357</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1144 15TH STREET</com:street1>
        <com:street2>Suite 2500</com:street2>
        <com:city>Denver</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CO</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>80202</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>303-573-1660</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>William M. Hayes</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>270 Park Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:street2>10th Floor</com:street2>
          <com:city>New York</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>4173</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>1133011</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>84810098</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>02/20/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/03/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>602</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/03/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/03/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>710</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/03/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/24/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>649</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/24/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/24/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>650</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/24/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/19/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>562</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/19/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/22/2010</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/22/2010</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>02/20/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for William M Hayes.</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
