Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
As Bellicent tells the story of Arthur’s founding of the Round Table, she mentions the presence of “three fair queens / Who stood in silence near his throne, the friends / Of Arthur… / who will help him at his need” (“Coming,” 275-279). These queens are a constant presence in Camelot: their image is on the top of the entrance gate that’s named for them, silently greeting everyone who enters. When Arthur receives his death wound, they appear on a barge, ready to carry him off to the Island of Avilion. Nobody can shake the three queens.
Since they accompany him to the afterlife, it’s possible that these three queens represent the Three Fates of Greco-Roman mythology, three sisters who were supposed to determine the destiny of every living person. Or they could represent Faith, Hope, and Love, the three theological virtues. Since Arthur attempts to build his kingdom on a foundation of virtue, it’s fitting that they guard the gateway to the city he rules.