Despite the forthcoming reunion of Prince Harry and Prince William at King Charles' coronation, the brothers' relationship remains strained, with no communication between the two, according to a palace insider. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is confirmed to attend his father's coronation on May 6, but the rift with the rest of the royal family persists.

A source told PEOPLE exclusively in this week's cover story that the situation is tense, and Prince Harry's participation in the historic event is unlikely to alleviate it. "I don't think the coronation and a big conversation can be conflated," the insider said.

Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, released earlier this year, shed light on some of the issues driving the brothers apart. He recounted a 2019 confrontation over his relationship with Meghan Markle, which became physically violent after Prince William referred to Meghan as "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive."

In a January interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Prince Harry expressed hope for a resolution with his family before the coronation. "There's a lot that can happen between now and then. But the door is always open. The ball is in their court," he said. "There's a lot to be discussed, and I really hope that they're willing to sit down and talk about it."

However, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received an email about the royal event from King Charles' office, it became apparent that the "sit-down" Harry sought would not take place, a close friend revealed to PEOPLE. "They didn't hear from Charles. Harry wanted to hear from his father directly — it's always through somebody," the friend said.

Despite the lack of direct communication, the estranged father and son ultimately connected and had "positive conversations," according to a source. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith adds, "Despite the wounds, it's his son, and I can't imagine he wouldn't want him to be there regardless of the hurtful things that have been said."