Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Numerator
Consolidated net (loss)/income	$ (4,273)	$ 509,089
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(9,051)	168,334
Net income attributable to Royalty Pharma plc - basic	4,778	340,755
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to non-controlling interests from the assumed conversion of Class B ordinary shares	1,539	123,257
Net income attributable to Royalty Pharma plc - diluted	$ 6,317	$ 464,012
Denominator
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	448,623	445,612
Class B ordinary shares exchangeable for Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	148,812	161,612
Unvested RSUs (in shares)	44	27
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	597,479	607,251
Earnings per Class A ordinary share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.76
Earnings per Class A ordinary share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.76
Continuing non-controlling interests
Numerator
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	$ 1,539	$ 123,257
Legacy non-controlling interests
Numerator
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	$ (10,590)	$ 45,077