Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton is an officer and gentleman of a type only Great Britain seems to produce.

Born of nobility, he first entered the royal palace as a young elite soldier. He then worked as an "equerry" -- a personal attendant -- for the "Queen Mum" for two years, before putting on his military uniform again to combat drug lords in Colombia. He then served in the first Gulf War and in Bosnia. Generals considered him one of the United Kingdom's most capable commanders.

Now the talented retired major faces what is arguably the most difficult task of his career. In addition to serving as private secretary to Princes William and Harry, Lowther-Pinkerton, 50, now heads a tiny team of special forces operating in the heart of London, in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Their mission: a fairy-tale wedding.

When Prince William marries long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton on April 29, Lowther-Pinkerton, the couple's chief wedding planner, must achieve the impossible. He's expected to execute -- perfectly and according to protocol -- an international event with an audience of billions, complete with five gilded carriages, magnificent uniforms and entire military parades. It might be the largest TV spectacle in history. At the same time, the historical moment should seem as intimate and private as any couple could wish for on their wedding day.

The former officer has an array of comrades in arms at his side. Each brings particular talents to the task. Helen Asprey has been personal assistant and motherly confidante to William for over 10 years. Miguel Head, 32, a former press officer for the British Defense Ministry, now serves as press secretary for William, Harry and Kate. He knows all the secrets, including who's designing the wedding dress, although he's keeping mum on that point.

Zero Tolerance for the Media

Since William, like any other young man, wants to follow wedding tradition, he knows that Kate's dress will likely be white. He won't know much more until 11:00 a.m. on April 29, when he watches from the altar at Westminster Abbey as she walks down the aisle on her father's arm, followed by four bridesmaids. "We're putting a lot of effort into making sure the wedding doesn't come across for the couple as if they've run through the event 15 times," says a palace insider.

Miguel Head is not just a press secretary for the younger royals; he's also deft at scaring off the media, and he's known for his extremely short fuse. He told journalists that his lawyers would step in immediately if anyone tried to intrude on William and Kate's private life. His threats of "zero tolerance" appear to be having the desired effect. Not one newspaper has yet dared to print images of the secluded cottage where the couple live on the Isle of Anglesey, in Wales.

Sir David Manning, 61, is the senior member of the wedding team and has the task of preparing William and Kate for the unusual life ahead of them. Manning, too, is well trained in sensitive missions, having served as British ambassador to the United States during the Iraq War. Prior to that, he was British Prime Minister Tony Blair's most important foreign policy adviser.

Queen Elizabeth asked Manning in 2009 to train William in the art of statesmanlike conduct. The diplomat accompanied the prince, who is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, to Australia and New Zealand during William's first official overseas tour last year. The trip was designed to help stem growing republicanism in those countries. Now Manning will supervise Kate, with an eye to turning a middle-class girl into a princess -- and the future Queen Catherine.

Princess Diana had no such professional adviser. She had no coaching for royal life, no one to deal with the media, no mentor. When William's mother became a princess at the age of 20, she was, as she herself later expressed it, "as thick as a plank." By coaching Kate, the royal family is hoping to avoid repeating Diana's tragic story.

Kate's new curriculum includes subjects such as Windsor family history, media law and the features of a constitutional monarchy. The future princess is also practicing certain indispensable skills such as waving, making small talk, entering and exiting carriages or limousines without mishap, and making poised appearances before the cameras.