August 2022 MSELN518-SPX Registration Statement No. 333-259205 Pricing Supplement Dated August 12, 2022 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

STRUCTURED INVESTMENTS

Opportunities in U.S. Equities

Principal at Risk Securities

The Dual Directional Participation Securities are senior unsecured obligations of Royal Bank of Canada, do not pay interest, do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity and have the terms described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, as supplemented or modified by this document.  At maturity, if the level of the underlying index has increased, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus a return reflecting the upside performance of the underlying index, subject to the maximum upside payment at maturity.  If the level of the underlying index has decreased, but by no more than 25%, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus a positive return equal to the absolute value of the percentage decline, which will effectively be limited to a positive return of 25%. However, if the level of the underlying index has decreased by more than 25%, investors will lose 1% of the stated principal amount for every 1% decline in the final index level from the initial index level.  These securities are for investors who seek an equity index-based return and who are willing to risk their principal and forgo current income and upside above the maximum upside payment at maturity in exchange for the upside return feature and the absolute return feature, which in each case apply to a limited range of positive or negative performance of the underlying index, as applicable.  Investors may lose their entire initial investment in the securities.  The securities are senior notes issued as part of Royal Bank of Canada’s Global Medium-Term Notes, Series I program.  All payments on the securities are subject to the credit risk of Royal Bank of Canada.

The initial estimated value of the securities was $9.70 per $10.00 security, which is less than the price to the public.  The market value of the securities at any time will reflect many factors, cannot be predicted with accuracy, and may be less than this amount.

An investment in the securities involves certain risks.  See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this document, and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-2 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and page 1 of the prospectus.

You should read this document together with the related prospectus supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below, before you decide to invest. Please also see “Additional Terms of the Securities” in this document.

Investment Summary

Dual Directional Participation Securities

Principal at Risk Securities

The Dual Directional Participation Securities Based on the Performance of the S&P 500^® Index due August 15, 2024 (the “Securities”) can be used:

The securities are exposed on a 1:1 basis to the full negative performance of the underlying index if the final index level is less than the trigger level.

Key Investment Rationale

The securities offer upside exposure to the positive performance of the underlying index, subject to the maximum upside payment at maturity, and a positive return based on the absolute value of a limited range of negative performance of the underlying index.  At maturity, if the level of the underlying index has increased, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus a return reflecting the upside performance of the underlying index, subject to the maximum upside payment at maturity. If the level of the underlying index has decreased, but by no more than 25%, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus a positive return equal to the absolute value of the percentage decline. However, if the level of the underlying index has decreased by more than 25%, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount for every 1% decline in the final index level from the initial index level, without any buffer.  Investors may lose their entire initial investment in the securities.

Additional Information

You should read this document together with the prospectus dated September 14, 2021, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated September 14, 2021, relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series I, of which the securities are a part. This document, together with these documents, contains the terms of the securities and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials, including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours.

You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this document, the prospectus and the prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. We and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management are offering to sell the securities and seeking offers to buy the securities only in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this document and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus is current only as of their respective dates.

If the information in this document differs from the information contained in the prospectus supplement or the prospectus, you should rely on the information in this document.

You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in this document and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, as the securities involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the securities.

You may access these documents on the SEC website atwww.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1000275.

Please see the section “Documents Incorporated by Reference” on page i of the above prospectus for a description of our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein.

How the Securities Work

Payoff Diagram

The payoff diagram below illustrates the payment at maturity on the securities for a range of hypothetical percentage changes in the level of the underlying index. The graph is based on the following terms:

How it works

Risk Factors

An investment in the securities is subject to the risks described below, as well as the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus. Investors in the securities are also exposed to further risks related to the issuer of the securities, Royal Bank of Canada, which are described in Royal Bank of Canada’s annual report on Form 40-F for its most recently completed fiscal year, filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein. See the categories of risks, identified and disclosed in the management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in the annual report on Form 40-F. This section (and the management’s discussion and analysis section of the annual report on Form 40-F) describes the most significant risks relating to the securities. You should carefully consider whether the securities are appropriate for you in light of your particular circumstances.

Risks Relating to the Terms and Structure of the Securities

whether all or part of the gain a holder may recognize upon sale, exchange or maturity of an instrument such as the securities should be treated as ordinary income. The outcome of this process is uncertain and could apply on a retroactive basis. Please read carefully the sections entitled “Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences” and “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this document, the section entitled “Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation. Risks Relating to the Initial Estimated Value of the Securities

The level of the underlying index may be volatile, and you should not take the historical levels of the underlying index as an indication of future performance. See “Information About the Underlying Index” below. You may receive

less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount per security if you sell your security prior to maturity.

investments in, such companies or providing advisory services to such companies, including merger and acquisition advisory services. In the course of business, we and our affiliates may acquire non-public information relating to these companies, which we have no obligation to disclose to you, and, in addition, one or more of our affiliates may publish research reports about these companies. Neither we nor the agent have made any independent investigation regarding any matters whatsoever relating to the issuers of the securities represented by the underlying index. Moreover, we and our affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the underlying index or the securities which it represents. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the securities. Any of these activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the level of the underlying index and, therefore, the market value of the securities.

Additional Terms of the Securities

Please read this information in conjunction with the summary terms on the front cover of this document.

Information About the Underlying Index

All disclosures contained in this document regarding the underlying index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, as the sponsor of the underlying index (the “index sponsor”). The index sponsor, which owns the copyright and all other rights to the underlying index, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the underlying index. The consequences of the index sponsor discontinuing publication of the underlying index are discussed above in the section entitled “Additional Terms of the Securities—Discontinuation of/adjustments to the underlying index.” Neither we nor RBCCM accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the underlying index or any successor index.

The S&P 500^® Index

The S&P 500^® Index (the “SPX”) is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement in the large capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The calculation of the level of the SPX is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943.

The index sponsor calculates the SPX by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of the SPX without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the securities will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the SPX constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.

Effective with the September 2015 rebalance, consolidated share class lines will no longer be included in the SPX.  Each share class line will be subject to public float and liquidity criteria individually, but the company’s total market capitalization will be used to evaluate each share class line. This may result in one listed share class line of a company being included in the SPX while a second listed share class line of the same company is excluded.

Computation of the SPX

While the index sponsor currently employs the following methodology to calculate the SPX, no assurance can be given that the index sponsor will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the payments on the securities.

Historically, the market value of any component stock of the SPX was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March 2005, the index sponsor began shifting the SPX halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the SPX to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. The index sponsor’s criteria for selecting stocks for the SPX did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the SPX.

Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the SPX reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies.

In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the SPX.  Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported in regulatory filings.  However, holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.

Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile, such as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares are normally part of the float unless those shares form a control block.

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding.  Available float shares are defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held by control holders.  This calculation is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks.  For example, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the company’s shares, the index sponsor would assign

that company an IWF of 1.00, as no control group meets the 5% threshold.  However, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares and another control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, the index sponsor would assign an IWF of 0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s outstanding shares are considered to be held for control.  As of July 31, 2017, companies with multiple share class lines are no longer eligible for inclusion in the SPX.  Constituents of the SPX prior to July 31, 2017 with multiple share class lines were grandfathered in and continue to be included in the SPX.  If a constituent company of the SPX reorganizes into a multiple share class line structure, that company will remain in the SPX at the discretion of the S&P Index Committee in order to minimize turnover.

The SPX is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the SPX reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the level easier to work with and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the notation 1941- 43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the SPX is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the SPX, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the SPX. The index divisor keeps the SPX comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the SPX, which is index maintenance.

Index Maintenance

Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the SPX, and do not require index divisor adjustments.

To prevent the level of the SPX from changing due to corporate actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of the SPX require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in market value, the level of the SPX remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the SPX. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the index closing level.

Changes in a company’s shares outstanding and IWF due to its acquisition of another public company are made as soon as reasonably possible. At S&P’s discretion, de minimis merger and acquisition share changes are accumulated and implemented with the quarterly share rebalancing.

All other changes of less than 5% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December.

Changes in a company’s total shares outstanding of 5% or more due to public offerings are made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes of 5% or more (for example, due to tender offers, Dutch auctions, voluntary exchange offers, company stock repurchases, private placements, acquisitions of private companies or non-index companies that do not trade on a major exchange, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participations, at-the-market stock offerings or other recapitalizations) are made weekly, and are generally announced on Fridays for implementation after the close of trading the following Friday (one week later). If a 5% or more share change causes a company’s IWF to change by five percentage points or more, the IWF is updated at the same time as the share change.  IWF changes resulting from partial tender offers are considered on a case-by-case basis.

License Agreement

S&P^® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones^® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”).  These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. “Standard & Poor’s^®,” “S&P 500^®” and “S&P^®” are trademarks of S&P. These trademarks have been sublicensed for certain purposes by us.  The SPX is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by us.

The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the securities particularly or the ability of the SPX to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the SPX is the licensing of the SPX and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The SPX is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us or the securities. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs or the needs of holders of the securities into consideration in determining, composing or

calculating the SPX. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the securities or the timing of the issuance or sale of the securities or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the securities are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the securities. There is no assurance that investment products based on the SPX will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors. Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the securities currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with the securities. In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the SPX. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the securities.

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE SPX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE SPX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND US, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

Historical Information

The table below sets forth the published high and low closing levels of the underlying index for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2017 through August 12, 2022. The graph below sets forth the daily closing levels of the underlying index for that period.

We obtained the information below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.

You should not take the historical levels of the underlying index as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the level of the underlying index on the valuation date.

The S&P 500^® Index

Information as of market close on August 12, 2022:

The S&P 500® Index

High

Low

2017
First Quarter	2,395.96	2,257.83
Second Quarter	2,453.46	2,328.95
Third Quarter	2,519.36	2,409.75
Fourth Quarter	2,690.16	2,529.12
2018
First Quarter	2,872.87	2,581.00
Second Quarter	2,786.85	2,581.88
Third Quarter	2,930.75	2,713.22
Fourth Quarter	2,925.51	2,351.10
2019
First Quarter	2,854.88	2,447.89
Second Quarter	2,954.18	2,744.45
Third Quarter	3,025.86	2,840.60
Fourth Quarter	3,240.02	2,887.61
2020
First Quarter	3,386.15	2,237.40
Second Quarter	3,232.39	2,470.50
Third Quarter	3,580.84	3,115.86
Fourth Quarter	3,756.07	3,269.96
2021
First Quarter	3,974.54	3,700.65
Second Quarter	4,297.50	4,019.87
Third Quarter	4,536.95	4,258.49
Fourth Quarter	4,793.06	4,300.46
2022
First Quarter	4,796.56	4,170.70
Second Quarter	4,582.64	3,666.77
Third Quarter (through August 12, 2022)	4,280.15	3,790.38

Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences

An investor should read carefully the description of material Canadian federal income tax considerations relevant to a Non-resident Holder owning debt securities under “Tax Consequences—Canadian Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus.

The Canadian tax disclosure in the prospectus also assumes that no amount paid or payable in respect of the securities will be the deduction component of a “hybrid mismatch arrangement” under which the payment arises within the meaning of proposed paragraph 18.4(3)(b) of the Tax Act contained in the April 2022 Proposal (as defined above) released on April 29, 2022.

Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following, together with the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement, is a general description of the material U.S. tax considerations relating to the securities. It does not purport to be a complete analysis of all tax considerations relating to the securities. Prospective purchasers of the securities should consult their tax advisors as to the consequences under the tax laws of the country of which they are resident for tax purposes and the tax laws of Canada and the U.S. of acquiring, holding and disposing of the securities and receiving payments under the securities. This summary is based upon the law as in effect on the date of this document and is subject to any change in law that may take effect after such date.

Supplemental U.S. Tax Considerations

The following section supplements the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement. It applies only to those initial holders who are not excluded from the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus. It does not apply to holders subject to special rules including holders subject to Section 451(b) of the Code.

NO STATUTORY, JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY DIRECTLY DISCUSSES HOW THE SECURITIES SHOULD BE TREATED FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. AS A RESULT, THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES ARE UNCERTAIN. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR IN DETERMINING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the entities whose stock is included in the underlying index would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or a “U.S. real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. If any of the entities whose stock is included in the underlying index were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply to U.S. and non-U.S. holders, respectively. You should refer to any available information filed with the SEC and other authorities by the entities whose stock is included in the underlying index and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you in this regard.

In the opinion of our special U.S. tax counsel, Ashurst LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat the securities as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract in respect of the underlying index for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the terms of the securities require a holder (in the absence of a change in law or an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the securities for all tax purposes in accordance with such characterization. If the securities are so treated, a U.S. holder should generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or maturity of the securities in an amount equal to the difference between the amount a holder receives at such time and the holder’s tax basis in the securities. In general, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the securities will be equal to the price the holder paid for the securities. Capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year and is generally taxed at ordinary income rates where the property is held for one year or less. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Alternative Treatments. Alternative tax treatments of the securities are also possible and the IRS might assert that a treatment other than that described above is more appropriate. For example, it is possible to treat the securities, and the IRS might assert that the securities should be treated, as a single debt instrument. Pursuant to such characterization, since the securities have a term that exceeds one year, such a debt instrument would be subject to the special tax rules governing contingent payment debt instruments. If the securities are so treated, a holder would generally be required to accrue interest income over the term of the securities based upon the yield at which we would issue a non-contingent fixed-rate debt instrument with terms and conditions similar to the securities. In addition, any gain a holder might recognize upon the sale,

exchange or maturity of the securities would generally be ordinary income and any loss recognized by a holder at such time would generally be ordinary loss to the extent of interest that same holder included in income in the current or previous taxable years in respect of the securities, and thereafter, would be capital loss.

Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax characterization of the securities, it is also possible that the IRS could seek to characterize the securities in a manner that results in tax consequences that are different from those described above. For example, the IRS could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a holder may recognize upon the sale, exchange or maturity of the securities should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.

The IRS has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the securities. According to the notice, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department are actively considering whether the holder of an instrument such as the securities should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the securities will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis. The IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital and whether the constructive ownership rules of Section 1260 of the Code which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gains as ordinary income and impose an interest charge, might be applied to such instruments. Further, future legislation, including legislation based on bills previously introduced in Congress, may tax all derivative instruments on a mark-to-market basis, requiring holders of such derivative instruments to take into account annually gains and losses on such instruments as ordinary income. The adoption of such legislation or similar proposals may significantly impact the tax consequences from an investment in the securities, including the timing and character of income and gain on the securities. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations. We intend to treat the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described in this document unless and until such time as the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Payments made with respect to the securities and proceeds from the sale or exchange of the securities may be subject to a backup withholding tax unless, in general, the holder complies with certain procedures or is an exempt recipient. Any amounts so withheld generally will be refunded by the IRS or allowed as a credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the holder makes a timely filing of an appropriate tax return or refund claim to the IRS.

Reports will be made to the IRS and to holders that are not exempted from the reporting requirements.

Non-U.S. Holders. The following discussion applies to non-U.S. holders of the securities. A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of the securities that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, or a foreign estate or trust.

Except as described below, a non-U.S. holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax for amounts paid in respect of the securities, provided that (i) the holder complies with any applicable certification requirements, (ii) the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct by the holder of a U.S. trade or business, and (iii) if the holder is a non-resident alien individual, such holder is not present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale, exchange or maturity of the securities. In the case of (ii) above, the holder generally would be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to any income or gain in the same manner as if the holder were a U.S. holder and, in the case of a holder that is a corporation, the holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable U.S. income tax treaty) of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a U.S. trade or business, subject to certain adjustments. Payments made to a non-U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and to backup withholding unless the holder complies with applicable certification and identification requirements as to its foreign status.

Under Section 871(m) of the Code, a “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the United States. Such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a non-U.S. holder. Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference, directly or indirectly, an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the U.S. Treasury Department regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2023. Based on our determination that the securities are not delta-one instruments, non-U.S. holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the securities. However, it is possible that the securities could be treated as deemed

reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying index or the securities (for example, upon an underlying index rebalancing), and following such occurrence the securities could be treated as subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. holders that enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the underlying index or the securities should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the securities and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable withholding agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.

As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the securities to become subject to withholding tax, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate. The IRS has also indicated that it is considering whether income in respect of instruments such as the securities should be subject to withholding tax. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments, including interest (and original issue discount), dividends, and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits, and income (“Withholdable Payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a holder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to collect and provide to the U.S. Treasury Department certain information regarding U.S. financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution or otherwise complies with FATCA. In addition, the securities may constitute a “financial account” for these purposes and thus, may be subject to information reporting requirements pursuant to FATCA. FATCA also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity, unless that entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed regulations that eliminate the requirement of FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds upon the sale or disposition of financial instruments. The U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization, and the discussion above assumes the proposed regulations will be finalized in their proposed form with retroactive effect. If we (or the applicable withholding agent) determine withholding is appropriate with respect to the securities, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Therefore, if such withholding applies, any payments on the securities will be significantly less than what you would have otherwise received. Depending on your circumstances, these amounts withheld may be creditable or refundable to you. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in the securities.

Use of Proceeds and Hedging

The net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus and to hedge market risks of Royal Bank of Canada associated with its obligation to make the payment at maturity on the securities. The initial public offering price of the securities includes the underwriting discount and commission and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the securities.

Supplemental Information Regarding Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest

Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, RBCCM, an affiliate of Royal Bank of Canada, will purchase the securities from Royal Bank of Canada for distribution to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.  RBCCM will act as agent for the securities and will receive a fee of $0.25 per $10 stated principal amount and will pay to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management a fixed sales commission of $0.20 for each of the securities they sell. Of the amount per $10 stated principal amount received by RBCCM, RBCCM will pay Morgan Stanley Wealth Management a structuring fee of $0.05 for each security. The costs included in the original issue price of the securities will include a fee paid by RBCCM to LFT Securities, LLC, an entity in which an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has an ownership interest, for providing certain electronic platform services with respect to this offering.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management may reclaim selling concessions allowed to individual brokers within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in connection with the offering if, within 30 days of the offering, Royal Bank of Canada repurchases the securities distributed by such brokers.

Delivery of the securities will be made against payment for the securities on August 17, 2022, which is the third business day following the pricing date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the securities more than two business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

In addition, RBCCM or another of its affiliates or agents may use this document in market-making transactions after the initial sale of the securities, but is under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice.

For additional information as to the relationship between us and RBCCM, please see the section “Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying prospectus.

The value of the securities shown on your account statement may be based on RBCCM’s estimate of the value of the securities if RBCCM or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the securities (which it is not obligated to do).  That estimate will be based on the price that RBCCM may pay for the securities in light of then prevailing market conditions, our creditworthiness and transaction costs. For an initial period of approximately 12 months, the value of the securities that may be shown on your account statement is expected to be higher than RBCCM’s estimated value of the securities at that time.  This is because the estimated value of the securities will not include the agent’s commission and our hedging costs and profits; however, the value of the securities shown on your account statement during that period is initially expected to be a higher amount, reflecting the addition of the agent’s commission and our estimated costs and profits from hedging the securities.  This excess is expected to decrease over time until the end of this period, and we reserve the right to shorten this period. After this period, if RBCCM repurchases your securities, it expects to do so at prices that reflect its estimated value.

Each of MSWM and any other broker-dealer offering the securities have not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any of the securities to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities, and a “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of: (a) a retail client, as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (b) a customer, within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (c) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) No 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared, and therefore, offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the

EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Each of MSWM and any other broker-dealer offering the securities have not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any of the securities to, any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.  Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Structuring the Securities

The securities are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the underlying index.  As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our structured notes, the economic terms of the securities reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing.  In addition, because structured notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under these securities at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity.  Using this relatively lower implied borrowing rate, rather than the secondary market rate, along with the fees and expenses associated with structured notes, reduced the initial estimated value of the securities at the time their terms were set.  Unlike the estimated value on the cover page of this pricing supplement, any value of the securities determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction may be based on a different funding rate, which may result in a lower value for the securities than if our initial internal funding rate were used.

In order to satisfy our payment obligations under the securities, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) on the issue date with RBCCM or one of our other subsidiaries.  The terms of these hedging arrangements take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the underlying index, and the tenor of the securities.  The economic terms of the securities and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

The lower implied borrowing rate, the underwriting commission and the hedging-related costs relating to the securities reduced the economic terms of the securities to you and resulted in the initial estimated value for the securities on the pricing date being less than their public offering price.  See “Risk Factors—The initial estimated value of the securities is less than the price to the public” above.

Validity of the Securities

In the opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, the issue and sale of the securities has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Bank in conformity with the Indenture, and when the securities have been duly executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor, the securities will be validly issued and, to the extent validity of the securities is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario or Québec, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, will be valid obligations of the Bank, subject to equitable remedies which may only be granted at the discretion of a court of competent authority, subject to applicable bankruptcy, to rights to indemnity and contribution under the securities or the Indenture which may be limited by applicable law, to insolvency and other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights, to limitations under applicable limitations statutes, and to limitations as to the currency in which judgments in Canada may be rendered, as prescribed by the Currency Act (Canada). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Provinces of Ontario and Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated September 14, 2021, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.3 to the Bank’s Form 6-K filed with the SEC dated September 14, 2021.

In the opinion of Ashurst LLP, when the securities have been duly completed in accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated by the prospectus supplement and the prospectus, the securities will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Bank, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity, public policy considerations and the discretion of the court before which any suit or proceeding may be brought. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. This opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and to such counsel’s reliance on the Bank and other sources as to certain factual matters, all as stated in the legal opinion dated September 14, 2021, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.4 to the Bank’s Form 6-K dated September 14, 2021.

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