Cele|bitchy | Prince Harry 'didn't hear from Charles, he wanted to …

People Magazine published additional excerpts from their cover story this week: "Why Harry's Going Without Meghan." In yesterday's excerpts, we learned from "sources" that the Duchess of Sussex was thinking about going to the coronation to support her father-in-law, but she didn't want to have to put herself through "the scrutiny" of the British media. "Scrutiny" being some kind of euphemism for targeted hate campaign. Anyway, these new excerpts are putting more of an emphasis on Harry's perspective.

Keep in mind, for days now, Buckingham Palace has been leaking a steady stream of "olive branch" stories, trying to make King Charles sound magnanimous and wise, a doting father and grandfather who has heart-to-heart conversations with his darling boy. Except that sources tell People that Charles didn't even contact Harry directly for a while.

The coronation invite: When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received an email about the royal event from Charles' office -- and not from Harry's father himself -- it became clear that the "sit-down" the prince sought to talk through their issues following the release of his memoir Spare wasn't going to happen, a close friend tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's cover story. "They didn't hear from Charles. Harry wanted to hear from his father directly -- it's always through somebody," the friend says.

Harry & Charles eventually did speak over the phone: With the coronation just weeks away and the big question of whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would attend the historic ceremony remaining, the estranged father and son ultimately connected -- although not in person -- and had "positive conversations," a source says. Charles's first wish: A source who knows the royals tells PEOPLE it would be King Charles' "first wish" for Harry to join them at the coronation. "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," royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith adds. Why Harry is going: For Prince Harry, his solo appearance at the coronation has everything to do with his desire to have, as he has stated, a "family, not an institution." "This is about a son showing up for his father rather than the optics of the institution," the close friend says.

No family reconciliation: "What they wanted wasn't achieved," the insider continued. "But at the end of the day, he's going there to support his dad."

[From People] Yeah, I believe that Charles and Harry weren't speaking and that the e-vite came through staff. I think Charles has regularly cut off personal communications with Harry over the years, and I'd be willing to bet that father and son did not speak over the phone from, like, October of last year through March.

Charles was pissy about the Netflix series and Spare, and his punishment was clear: evicting the Sussexes from Frogmore Cottage. My other theory is that Charles's childish silent treatment was probably the major reason why Harry didn't confirm his attendance until last week. He was like: I can give you the silent treatment too, dad.

Harry went radio silent about the coronation and Charles freaked out and eventually called Harry. I bet you that's how it happened.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex walk behind the coffin during the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral.

Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.,Image: 722661798, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jeff J Mitchell / Avalon

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Queen Consort, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent pay their respects inside the Palace of Westminster for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.,Image: 722674734, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: David Ramos / Avalon

Prince William, Prince Harry and King Charles III The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, Westminster Abbey, London, UK - 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724167805, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon

Prince Harry, King Charles III, Camilla Queen Consort, and Princess Anne The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Gun Carriage Procession, Wellington Roundabout, London, UK - 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724224245, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock / Avalon

King Charles, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William, Catherine Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex on a walkabout to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle in Berkshire following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

Featuring: Prince Harry Where: Windsor, England, United Kingdom When: 10 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**

Ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Featuring: King Charless III, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 14 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**

Ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where Her Majesty will lie in state Featuring: Prince Harry, King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 14 Sep 2022 Credit: Cover Images

State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II held at Westminster Abbey in London.

Featuring: King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**