Takamoto initially supported the shogun, but began to lean towards the government army side after serving as a guard of the old imperial palace during the Hamaguri Rebellion, and, in January 1868, he quickly took the side of the new government with the help of Kinmochi SAIONJI.
隆備ははじめ佐幕派であったが、禁門の変で御所の警備を務めた頃から次第に官軍側に与するようになり、慶応4年（1868年）1月には西園寺公望を通じていち早く新政府側に帰順した。