Prince Harry and wife Meghan told Elton John they wanted to quit before telling the Queen.
News of his support came as Her Majesty called a royal summit on Monday – with Meghan joining in by phone.
The royal rebels Harry and Meghan turned to their “rock” Elton as they grappled with their controversial decision to quit senior duties.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been speaking to the showbiz legend – a pal of Harry’s mum Diana – every day for months.
They even told him about their plans before informing the Queen.
The news comes as Her Majesty called a crisis summit at her home in Sandringham tomorrow.
Harry, brother William and their father Prince Charles will be there.
A royal insider said Meghan, who is in Canada, is expected to take part by conference call – if it works with her schedule owing to the eight-hour time difference.
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Details of the unprecedented meeting, seen by observers as vital to the very future of the monarchy, were outlined by Palace sources.
The Queen and princes will have written briefings before meeting for the first time since the crisis began.
A senior Palace source said: “The family will gather at Sandringham to talk things through. Following meetings and consultations there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined.
“Making a change to the working life and role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussion. Next steps will be agreed and the request for this to be resolved at pace – days, not weeks – is still Her Majesty’s wish.”
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The summit comes as insiders revealed Sir Elton’s support. One said: “Elton speaks to Harry and Meghan every day. He’s an inspiration, an almost ‘motherly’ figure. They made their decision alone, but he’s a shoulder to lean on and listened as they spoke about their plans.
“He is a constant support, especially to Meghan, and is very protective of them both.”
A source close to Elton added: “He has been their rock. So while he would never tell them what to do he has been a listening ear and support throughout.”
Sir Elton rewrote Candle in the Wind for Diana’s funeral in 1997. He was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding and later defended the couple after they used his private jet to visit his home in Nice, France.
Elton paid to offset the carbon footprint. Their bond was clear when they hugged on the red carpet at a Lion King premiere last July.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, faced criticism after revealing on Instagram a plan to live between North America and the UK while striving for financial independence.
Palace aides, meanwhile, hit back with a strong denial after Harry’s News at Ten pal Tom Bradby claimed the couple felt “driven out”, that family relationships were “toxic” and that they had been warned they would not be part of a slimmed-down monarchy.
Meghan, meanwhile, is back with baby son Archie at a £10.7million holiday home on Vancouver Island.
We can reveal she sought advice from former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who visited Windsor last November.
Ex-actress Meghan asked about the practicality of running a foundation. And she has not ruled out a screen return.
A source said: “Meghan’s plan is to style herself as a ‘global humanitarian’ who will save the world.
"She wants a production with a humanitarian theme that will win Oscars – and has been speaking to directors, including George Clooney.”
A spokesman for Sir Elton said: “Elton supports the fact Harry and Meghan are admirably taking control of their own lives.
“He cares about them and their family deeply and is fully supportive of any decisions the couple make, knowing they are made by them alone, without outside influence and with their future happiness and wellbeing in mind.”
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