Associated Newspapers Ltd has asked a judge to order Prince Harry and other claimants, including Sir Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, to pay an interim £10mn within 14 days to cover legal costs of the privacy lawsuit. The publisher is insisting on its £34mn in total costs being paid on an indemnity basis, a punitive calculation that could leave the celebrities millions out of pocket.

The High Court noted that the claimants’ insurance covers up to £16.2mn, but lawyers for the celebrities warned that the సంవత్సరం’s cost demand could force them to face bills running into millions. Antony White KC said the allegations were raised in a “chaotic and ill‑disciplined” manner, while Nicholas Bacon KC argued the costs were “eye‑watering” and the claimants had acted honestly.

Earlier this month the court dismissed all claims made by the public figures, who also included Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence../n

The case centres on alleged phone hacking and bugging of cars and houses, and the High Court’s judgment points out that inference was often required in the claims, with Mr Justice Matthew Nicklin summarising the 436‑page ruling.

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