Registration Statement No. 333-275898 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed.

Royal Bank of Canada is offering Capped Return Dual Directional Notes with Daily Knock-Out Observation (the “Notes”) linked to the performance of the S&P 500^® Index (the “Underlier”).

CUSIP: 78017KAJ1

Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement and “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement and product supplement.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of the Notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this pricing supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The Notes will not constitute deposits insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Canadian or U.S. governmental agency or instrumentality. The Notes are not bail-inable notes and are not subject to conversion into our common shares under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.

⁽¹⁾ We or one of our affiliates may pay varying selling concessions of up to $22.50 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes in connection with the distribution of the Notes to other registered broker-dealers. Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their underwriting discount or selling concessions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in these accounts may be between $977.50 and $1,000.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. In addition, we or one of our affiliates may pay a broker-dealer that is not affiliated with us a referral fee of up to $5.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.

The initial estimated value of the Notes determined by us as of the Trade Date, which we refer to as the initial estimated value, is expected to be between $918.10 and $968.10 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes and will be less than the public offering price of the Notes. The final pricing supplement relating to the Notes will set forth the initial estimated value. The market value of the Notes at any time will reflect many factors, cannot be predicted with accuracy and may be less than this amount. We describe the determination of the initial estimated value in more detail below.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

KEY TERMS

The information in this “Key Terms” section is qualified by any more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement and in the accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement, underlying supplement and product supplement.

* Subject to postponement. See “General Terms of the Notes—Postponement of a Determination Date” and “General Terms of the Notes—Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement.

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF YOUR NOTES

You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated December 20, 2023, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023, relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series J, of which the Notes are a part, the underlying supplement no. 1A dated May 16, 2024 and the product supplement no. 1A dated May 16, 2024. This pricing supplement, together with these documents, contains the terms of the Notes 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, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours.

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement and the documents listed below. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. These documents are an offer to sell only the Notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in each such document is current only as of its date.

If the information in this pricing supplement differs from the information contained in the documents listed below, you should rely on the information in this pricing supplement.

You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Selected Risk Considerations” in this pricing supplement and “Risk Factors” in the documents listed below, as the Notes 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 Notes.

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

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000119312523299520/d645671d424b3.htm

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000119312523299523/d638227d424b3.htm

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000095010324006773/dp211259_424b2-us1a.htm

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000095010324006777/dp211286_424b2-ps1a.htm

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1000275. As used in this pricing supplement, “Royal Bank of Canada,” the “Bank,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean only Royal Bank of Canada.

HYPOTHETICAL RETURNS

The table and examples set forth below illustrate hypothetical payments at maturity for hypothetical performance of the Underlier, based on a hypothetical Upper Knock-Out Value of 122% of the Initial Underlier Value (the actual Upper Knock-Out Value will be determined on the Trade Date) and a hypothetical Lower Knock-Out Value of 78% of the Initial Underlier Value (the actual Lower Knock-Out Value will be determined on the Trade Date). The table and examples are only for illustrative purposes and may not show the actual return applicable to investors.

SELECTED RISK CONSIDERATIONS

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the Notes. Some of the risks that apply to an investment in the Notes are summarized below, but we urge you to read also the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement and product supplement. You should not purchase the Notes unless you understand and can bear the risks of investing in the Notes.

Risks Relating to the Terms and Structure of the Notes

Risks Relating to the Initial Estimated Value of the Notes and the Secondary Market for the Notes

prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial. If you sell your Notes before maturity, you may have to do so at a substantial discount from the price that you paid for them, and as a result, you may suffer significant losses. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.

The value of the Notes at any time after the Trade Date will vary based on many factors, including changes in market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold the Notes in any secondary market, if any, should be expected to differ materially from the initial estimated value of the Notes.

Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest and Our Trading Activities

Risks Relating to the Underlier

INFORMATION REGARDING THE UNDERLIER

The Underlier consists of stocks of 500 companies selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. For more information about the Underlier, see “Indices—The S&P U.S. Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement.

Historical Information

The following graph sets forth historical closing values of the Underlier for the period from January 1, 2014 to November 27, 2024. We obtained the information in the graph from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent investigation. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Underlier will result in a positive return on your initial investment.

S&P 500^® Index

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

You should review carefully the section in the accompanying product supplement entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the Notes.

Generally, this discussion assumes that you purchased the Notes for cash in the original issuance at the stated issue price and does not address other circumstances specific to you, including consequences that may arise due to any other investments relating to the Underlier. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the effect any such circumstances may have on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your ownership of a Note.

We intend to treat the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes as contingent payment debt instruments, or “CPDIs,” as described in “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Notes Treated as Debt Instruments—Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. In the opinion of our counsel, which is based on current market conditions, this treatment of the Notes is reasonable under current law. Assuming this treatment is respected, regardless of your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally will be required to accrue interest income in each year on a constant yield to maturity basis at the “comparable yield,” as determined by us, adjusted upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and projected payments on the Notes during the year. Upon a taxable disposition of a Note, you generally will recognize taxable income or loss equal to the difference between the amount received and your tax basis in the Notes. You generally must treat any income realized as interest income and any loss as ordinary loss to the extent of previous interest inclusions, and the balance as capital loss, the deductibility of which is subject to limitations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Knock-Out Event occurs prior to the original issue date, the Notes will not be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In this event, the Notes should be treated as debt instruments issued with original issue discount (“OID”) in an amount equal to the excess of the fixed payment at maturity over the “issue price” of each Note. A U.S. Holder will be required to include OID in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it accrues, in accordance with a constant-yield method based on a compounding of interest, regardless of such U.S. Holder’s method of accounting. Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or maturity of a Note generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the notes for more than one year.

After the original issue date, you may obtain the comparable yield and the projected payment schedule by requesting them from RBCCM at 1-877-688-2301.

Neither the comparable yield nor the projected payment schedule constitutes a representation by us regarding the actual amount(s) that we will pay on the Notes.

Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, please also read the section entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Notes Treated as Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement.

As discussed under “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Dividend Equivalents under Section 871(m) of the Code” in the accompanying product supplement, Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. The Treasury regulations, as modified by an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) notice, exempt financial instruments issued prior to January 1, 2027 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on certain determinations made by us, we expect that Section 871(m) will not apply to the Notes with regard to Non-U.S. Holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. If necessary, further information regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) will be provided in the final pricing supplement for the Notes.

We will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to U.S. federal withholding taxes.

You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

The Notes are offered initially to investors at a purchase price equal to par, except with respect to certain accounts as indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement. We or one of our affiliates may pay the underwriting discount and may pay a broker-dealer that is not affiliated with us a referral fee, in each case as set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement.

The value of the Notes shown on your account statement may be based on RBCCM’s estimate of the value of the Notes if RBCCM or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the Notes (which it is not obligated to do). That estimate will be based on the price that RBCCM may pay for the Notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions, our creditworthiness and transaction costs. For a period of approximately three months after the Issue Date, the value of the Notes that may be shown on your account statement may be higher than RBCCM’s estimated value of the Notes at that time. This is because the estimated value of the Notes will not include the underwriting discount, the referral fee or our hedging costs and profits; however, the value of the Notes shown on your account statement during that period may initially be a higher amount, reflecting the addition of the underwriting discount, the referral fee and our estimated costs and profits from hedging the Notes. This excess is expected to decrease over time until the end of this period. After this period, if RBCCM repurchases your Notes, it expects to do so at prices that reflect their estimated value.

RBCCM or another of its affiliates or agents may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, RBCCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in the Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.

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

STRUCTURING THE NOTES

The Notes are our debt securities. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our structured notes, the economic terms of the Notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness. In addition, because structured notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under structured notes at a rate that is lower than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. The lower internal funding rate, the underwriting discount, the referral fee and the hedging-related costs relating to the Notes reduce the economic terms of the Notes to you and result in the initial estimated value for the Notes being less than their public offering price. Unlike the initial estimated value, any value of the Notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction may be based on a secondary market rate, which may result in a lower value for the Notes than if our initial internal funding rate were used.

In order to satisfy our payment obligations under the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with RBCCM and/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, volatility and the tenor of the Notes. The economic terms of the Notes and the initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

See “Selected Risk Considerations—Risks Relating to the Initial Estimated Value of the Notes and the Secondary Market for the Notes—The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Less Than the Public Offering Price” above.