The Duchess of Sussex is being roasted online after breaking cover for a ritzy lunch in London, only to have her outfit compared to legendary Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Meghan Markle was spotted in the outfit – reportedly worth £19,000 ($36,000) – after a lunch with Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Claridge’s Hotel last Wednesday (local time).

For her first public appearance since moving back to Britain with husband Harry and their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in August, Meghan wore white wide-legged pants – reportedly by Ralph Lauren – with a cream cashmere jumper by Co and a loose brown Tove overcoat.

The 45-year-old duchess finished off the look with a black Chanel handbag reportedly worth about $13,000 and a Logan Hollowell diamond-and-emerald necklace valued at more than $30,000.

Alongside the luxury pieces, Meghan carried a white canvas tote of unknown origins. It was trimmed with colourful illustrations of women wearing head coverings.

In the hours after paparazzi pictures of Meghan and Malala meeting for lunch emerged, chatter erupted online comparing her outfit to Star Wars‘ Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“I see that [Meghan] decided to dress herself as Obi-Wan Kenobi for her tea at Claridges. Celebrating Halloween a little early? I also don’t understand the awful canvas-looking bag she’s carrying,” a Reddit user wrote.

There were similar sentiments on X.

“OM*G!!!!! Halloween showed up early—and Obi-Wan still wore it best,” wrote one user alongside side-by-side photos of Meghan and Kenobi.

Others took the comparisons further.

“Sweet nod to Harry there with her outfit: She had the parachute from his (so brave) tandem jump turned into trousers. Just adorable!” wrote a Reddit commenter.

Another critic said the oversized ensemble made it appear as though Meghan was “wearing someone else’s clothes”.

“You could hide a dozen Italian palazzos in those pants. Does no one see her before she leaves the house?” asked another.

And finally: “With all her Hollywood ‘connections’, you would think she could get a top-notch stylist….or at least a free personal shopper at Nordstrom.”

To be fair, it wasn’t all negative. There was also plenty of praise for Meghan and her choice of clothing. One fan saluted her as looking “effortlessly chic”, while others offered praise for “Two STRONG, independent women will have a lot to talk about; geopolitics, women’s rights, domestic abuse – adult conversations”.

Inside Claridge’s Foyer & Reading Room, Meghan and Malala posed for photos with their arms around each other. The photos were later shared in a joint Instagram post.

“When we support the girls of today, we empower the women of tomorrow. Access to education is the key to unlocking this,” the post read.

“This International Day of the Girl [on October 11], in partnership with Archewell Philanthropies, 100 per cent of net proceeds from As Ever jams and teas will support Malala Fund and its vital work to ensure that every girl has access to free, safe, quality education. Tea for Two has never felt so good.”

It came as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office confirmed that Meghan and Prince Harry would have their first joint public outing this week.

On Thursday (British time), the couple will visit Nottingham, which was also the first city they visited as a newly engaged couple in 2017. A series of visits and events with charities and organisations that support young people is on the agenda.

It comes as the Sussexes continue to await the result of the latest review of their continued battle for public-funded police protection.