<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001678642</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>Isto Mark</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>2000 Westchester Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Purchase</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>10577</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>2000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>549650.20</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>84810098</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/12/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/02/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Awards and Performance Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/02/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>The securities to be sold were acquired upon the vesting of restricted stock awards and performance stock units during the period of 03/02/2025 through 05/02/2025.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/12/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Mark Isto</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
