The Queen and three guards spotted at Friday’s Winnipeg Jets game are part of a regal movement to return Her Majesty’s wayward portrait to Winnipeg.

The likeness in question, a five-by-seven-metre portrait commissioned in 1979 for the old Winnipeg arena, has been sitting in a Whitby, Ont. warehouse for 10 years.

“We kind of feel bad for her. We’d like her to have a proper home and we think that should be in Winnipeg,” said Queen’s Guard member Shawn Vidal.

Vidal and a few friends got the idea for their campaign last fall and started a @ReturnOurQueen Twitter account and a Facebook page.

They had an “arts-and-crafts day” and sewed together Queen’s Guard costumes, which accompanied a framed poster of Her Majesty to the Jets’ home opener.

The Queen (Matt Janzen in real life) won’t be at every game, Vidal said, as she is sharing her season ticket with other people.

“Even the Queen can’t get tickets to every game,” Vidal lamented.

The old Queen portrait is now owned by Vancouver singer/songwriter Tim Lawson. Reached by phone, Lawson confirmed he is looking to sell.

“When it comes time to make a decision, I would lean in favour of Winnipeg. It’s not so much a matter of money,” Lawson said.

“It would delight me if it went there. I love Winnipeg.”

True North spokesman Scott Brown said there are no plans to purchase the old portrait as it would be unsuitable for hanging in the new arena.