Elton John weighs in on Harry and Meghan's bombshell announement

Sir Elton John has been a ‘constant support’ to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex amid their plans to step back as senior members of the royal family, according to reports.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced last week they would be stepping down from their royal duties, and it has now been claimed that music legend Elton - who was a dear friend of Harry's late mother Princess Diana - has been a ‘shoulder to lean on’ as the pair made their decision.

“Elton speaks to Harry and Meghan every day,” a source told The Sunday Mirror.

“He's an inspiration, an almost 'motherly' figure. [Harry and Meghan] made their decision alone, but [Elton'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,” they added.

A second source close to the Rocket Man icon revealed that he’s been the royal couple’s ‘rock’ during the fallout from their shock decision to cut ties with the monarchy.

“He has been their rock. So while he would never tell them what to do he has been a listening ear and support throughout,” they said.

Elton has been close to the royal family for many years and was a guest at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018.

Elton, who rewrote Candle in the Wind for Diana's funeral in 1997, defended the Sussexes last year when they came under fire for taking several private plane trips, despite their outspoken attitude towards climate change.

The legendary singer revealed he had covered the cost of their private flight to his home in Nice and also made a donation to balance out the extra carbon emissions it caused.

“After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquillity of our home,” he said at the time.

“To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight. To support Prince Harry's commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint,” he added.

Elton concluded by saying that he ‘respects’ and ‘applauds’ Harry and Meghan’s commitment to charity and called for the press to “cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character”.

Harry, his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles are expected to gather for unprecedented crisis talks with the Queen on Monday at Sandringham where they’re expected to ‘thrash out’ the Duke and Duchess’ next move.

Meghan, who flew back to Canada on Friday to be with their son Archie who had remained behind with friends, is said to be dialling into the negotiations.

Wills is reportedly ‘desperately sad’ about his younger sibling’s plans to split his time between the US and the UK but still holds hope that they might ‘play as a team’ once again in the future.

Additional reporting by BANG Showbiz.

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