Previously an amateur side called Harthill Royal Bar, the club shortened their name on joining the Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region in 1992.

[1] The SJFA restructured prior to the 2006–07 season, and Royal found themselves in the 15-team East Region, South Division.

For the 2021–22 season, they joined West of Scotland Football League in the senior pyramid and were placed in Division Four.

Despite their ground's West Lothian location being in the East of Scotland Football League catchment area, the club was allowed to choose which league to join due to the village of Harthill being situated in North Lanarkshire.

However, the club then returned to the East of Scotland Football League, joining the Third Division for the 2022–23 season.