Queen Elizabeth’s hope never waned that strained relations could be relieved within the royal family.

In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, historian Robert Hardman says that the late monarch would have hoped that her grandsonPrince Harrycould repair his relationship with his father,King Charles III, and older brother,Prince William.

“The Queen adored Harry right to the end, and Harry adored her,” the author ofQueen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth IIsays of thespecial bondHarry and his grandmother shared. “I think she was one of the conduits between Windsor and California, and it would have been one of her dearest wishes that they patch things up.”

Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry and his wife,Meghan Markle, have become distant from other family members in recent years. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexstepped backfrom their senior royal roles in early 2020 and have resided in Meghan’s home state of California since.

Andy Stenning - WPA Pool/Getty

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Princess Beatrice observe the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transferred from the gun carriage to the hearse at Wellington Arch following the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.

Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, had been in Europe for a series of charity visits whenQueen Elizabeth"peacefully" died at age 96 atBalmoral Castlein Scotland, hours after her doctors publicly announced they were “concerned” for her health. The California couple remained in the U.K. for the Queen’s funerary events for the following two weeks andtraveled back to U.S.after the funeral.

Now, those close to the King andQueen Camillahope, for the sake of the new reign if not salvaging family ties, thatPrince WilliamandPrince Harrywill reconcile.

Justin Setterfield/Getty

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex join the Procession following the State Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II towards St George’s Chapel on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.

“You’d think that all members of the family would unite and support the King, especially,” a source close to King Charles tells PEOPLE. “Perhaps some wounds can be healed in the process.” It would likely have beenQueen Elizabeth’s dying wish.

“She knew that conflicts were a part of life, and she didn’t hold grudges. Most of all, she wanted to see her family happy,” the insider adds.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty

The Duchess of Sussex, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Charlotte, and the Princess of Wales during the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England.

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Samantha Cohen, the Queen’s former assistant private secretary, attendedQueen Elizabeth’s committal service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Monday. She tells PEOPLE that the royals “looked tired” as thegravity of the grieffinally hit.

“It was a shock, and now it’s real. And the real mourning starts,” Cohen says. “The reality of life without the Queen starts now.”

source: people.com