Costs hearings are not the biggest crowd-pullers in the Royal Courts of Justice – but adding a tabloid-friendly royal and a figure of £50m certainly helps the ratings. 

The court was packed for this week’s consequentials hearing following the demolition of the claim against the Daily Mail’s publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering. 

Mercifully, Court 76 was not too hot – a miracle given the 35°C temperature outside. We were able to make ourselves comfortable in the seats with the little attached tables that are never quite the right fit.

There were spaces for everyone – including a large contingent of journalists. In a welcome development, Mr Justice Nicklin told those watching online that his clerk would be emailing the skeleton arguments over so they could properly follow the submissions. We can only hope that other judges follow suit.

One disappointment for the public gallery was the absence of the claimants’ previous front man, David Sherborne KC. ‘Perhaps he’s washing his hair,’ one balding hack japed. But of course Sherborne isn’t a costs specialist so we didn’t expect him there anyway.