The sustained tensions betweenPrince WilliamandPrince Harryhave devastated many members of the royal family — including their father,Prince Charles.

The future monarch, 72, has historically had complicated relationships with his sons and is finding it hard to intervene as increasingly painful revelations about the roots of the brothers' discord continue to come to light.

Prince Charles.Chris Jackson/Getty

prince charles

The latest exploration of the deepening fracture between the princes comes via additional chapters in royal historian Robert Lacey’sBattle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult.

As PEOPLE previously reported, the schism between the brothers began whenWilliam expressed concernabout the speed at which Harry’s relationship with then-girlfriendMeghan Marklewas moving prior to theirMay 2018 wedding.

Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry

According to Lacey’s new chapters, things worsened again in October 2018 when William, 39, learned of allegations fromstaffers who said they had been bullied. (When the bullying claims first surfaced inThe Timesin March, the Duchess of Sussex’s officestrongly denied the allegationsand said they were part of a smear campaign against the Duchess, 39. The palace set up an independent inquiry, which is still “ongoing,” a source confirms.)

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prince william and prince harry

“Everyone was optimistic,” a source close to the royal household tells PEPOLE, “but nothing really happened.”

Adds another close source: “There was not really any time to build bridges.”

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William.Shutterstock

prince william and prince harry

But there is another reunion just around the corner — on July 1, both brothers are expected to attend theunveiling of the long-awaited statue of their mother,Princess Diana, at Kensington Palace Gardens, a project they commissioned together several years ago.

source: people.com