PRINCE Harry and his fellow celebs face an £18million bill over their failed hacking case.
Associated Newspapers has also demanded an initial payment of £10million within 14 days.
Lawyers for the Daily Mail publisher told a High Court costs hearing that Harry’s team “abused their celebrity status” to pursue a case “well outside the law” and that their conduct had been “outrageous” and “unreasonable”.
The publisher has applied for costs to be paid on an indemnity basis, meaning there would be no cap on the amount they can claim back.
The court heard the six famous names each took out insurance policies worth £2.7million — a total of £16.2million — before the 11-week trial.
But Associated is trying to claw back £34.5million — leaving an £18million shortfall.
Harry, 41, sued for alleged unlawful information-gathering.
He was joined in the claim by Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish, Liz Hurley, Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and Sir Simon Hughes.
Associated strongly denied the allegations and all 97 were rejected by Mr Justice Nicklin earlier this month.
Antony White KC, representing the publisher, said the group had presented allegations “without any supporting documentary evidence”.
Harry’s lawyers described the sum as “eye-watering” and said it would have a “particularly harsh impact”.
Nicholas Bacon KC said awarding indemnity costs would be “grotesquely unfair”.
He said Associated had failed to declare that they had exceeded the agreed budget of £20million, describing the overspend as “naughty”.
Iain Wilson, media law expert at Brett Wilson, said indemnity costs are rare but there is an arguable basis for seeking them which could pose severe problems for the claimants.
It may also trigger a post-mortem into their legal advice.
The hearing continues.