There is an edict in our democracy that politics and royalty must not mix.

Sure, we live in a "constitutional monarchy" where King Charles is head of state, wading through government papers and meeting the prime minister weekly. But when it comes to the task of setting the political direction and framing our nation's political debate, the Royal Family has to zip it and remain entirely neutral.

???? Listen above then tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts ???? And just as the royals don't stray into political territory, political editors like myself and politicians don't talk much about the Royal Family. In fact, politicians actively swerve any questions inviting them to comment on the latest tabloid drama around the royals.

But this week on Electoral Dysfunction, we've broken with our own conventions to discuss the Princess of Wales's announcement that she has cancer, and ask whether this might be a moment when the cultural and social role the Royal Family play in our national life takes a more political tilt. Because the princess's diagnosis - on the heels of King Charles's announcement he has cancer - has started a conversation about cancer that the British people are perhaps taking into the political dimension.

The realisation that anyone can find themselves in this position is throwing into sharp relief the state of our healthcare system. In the same way some people might be asking, "could I have cancer?.