They are preparing for an island wedding celebration this weekend - but Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson have already quietly tied the knot in Florida, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. 

The couple's marriage certificate, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows the president's eldest son and the glamorous Palm Beach socialite officially became husband and wife in a secret ceremony held at the West Palm Beach home of Anderson's sister Kristina McPherson on Thursday.  

Her brother-in-law Brad McPherson performed the ceremony, according to the document. 

The newlyweds are now heading to the Caribbean for a sun-soaked celebration limited to only their closest friends and a few family members including Ivanka Trump. 

The low-key ceremony on Thursday is a far cry from the lavish White House wedding Don Jr, 48, and Bettina, 39, had once envisioned before tensions in the Middle East forced them to dramatically scale back their plans. 

On Friday, President Trump confirmed he will not attend the island wedding party over the holiday weekend in a statement in which he referred to the new bride as his son's 'soon-to-be-wife'. 

'While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr, and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so,' he wrote. 

'I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time. Congratulations to Don and Bettina!' 

The private nuptials come after the couple had initially pushed their wedding date to the fall, fearing a blowout wedding bash during the Iran conflict would hand critics an easy shot at Don Jr's father.

But with no end to the war in sight, the couple opted not to keep waiting, instead holding a smaller wedding in Palm Beach followed by an island celebration for close family and friends over Memorial Day weekend. 

A close source said at the time: 'They're waiting for the right moment because of what's happening in the world.'

But clearly they believe that's in the past.

Another source said just before the Caribbean ceremony: 'Bettina and Don Jr are very anxious to maintain secrecy over this. 

'They had the engagement at Camp David, which was really controlled. And they want to maintain that level of control with the wedding.

'I think this is something they just want to get through, get it done. So they can get on with their lives, move on to the next chapters for all the things they want to achieve.'

The couple's quest to write their own narrative comes after a somewhat unorthodox start to the relationship, in public at least.

For years, the new bride had proudly proclaimed on Instagram that she didn't have a husband 'or do household chores', making her whirlwind romance with Don Jr all the more surprising. 

It's safe to say she has since changed her mind about marriage – and it wasn't just thanks to the champagne, roses and diamonds her new husband had wooed her with in the early days of their romance.

The blissful tropical event followed their engagement in December 2025 at the Camp David presidential retreat.

Dad-of-five Don Jr, 47, dropped down to one knee and popped the question clutching an eight-carat diamond ring, with both highly orchestrating their subsequent joyful news.

Their engagement was exactly a year after the Daily Mail's explosive photos of them coming out of a Palm Beach restaurant holding hands before they went public. 

This was incontrovertible proof of our earlier exclusive revelation that they were indeed a newly-minted item, despite Don Jr still being officially engaged to fiancée Kimberley Guilfoyle.

In fact, the day our pictures were published, the White House suddenly announced ex-Fox News host Guilfoyle was heading to Greece to become US ambassador.

For months, the now newlyweds had kept their relationship largely under wraps as Don Jr still officially lived in a $17.5 million waterfront mansion with Guilfoyle, the 57-year-old former wife of California governor Gavin Newsom.

However, the Daily Mail spotted them in August, 2024, canoodling during an intimate brunch date at The Honor Bar, located in Palm Beach's swanky Royal Poinciana Plaza.

In what was clearly no business meeting, the society 'it girl' was seen reaching over three times to plant a sexy kiss on her new beau's lips.

She seemed totally smitten with Don – and he with her,' a witness told us at the time.

'They were definitely on a date. They weren't exactly making out, but the kisses were romantic and you could tell they were intimate with each other.'

The day after the cozy meal, Don Jr was seen with Guilfoyle as the MAGA Boat Parade passed by their six-bedroom, 11-bathroom home in the high-security Admiral's Cove community in Jupiter, 20 miles north of Mar-a-Lago.

However, following our story of Don Jr and Anderson at brunch, pals of GOP stalwart Guilfoyle revealed she had been blindsided.

'Kimberly either didn't know about Bettina – or didn't want to know,' said one. 'Did she hear whispers that Don Jr was fooling around with someone else? Probably.

'She's no fool, but it's easy to deceive yourself when you're so committed to someone and believe he's committed to you.'

Fast forward four months and our exclusive photos showed Don Jr flaunting his new relationship as the couple walked hand in hand from exclusive downtown Palm Beach eatery Buccan as part of her 38th birthday celebrations.

Dressed in a smart blue suit and white shirt open at the neck, Don Jr revealed no hesitation about showing off his new flame as they emerged from the restaurant just before 10pm.

They came out with another couple and he could be heard laughing before they bade the others farewell and headed across the street to his vehicle, totally smitten with each other.

Anderson – wearing loose and flowing black pants with a black vest-like top and clutching a maroon purse with a gold clasp – stayed close to her man as they approached his pickup truck parked directly opposite the restaurant, their fingers interlocked.

At the time, the couple were spending nights at Anderson's relatively modest $860,000 townhouse in West Palm Beach, a mile from Mar-a-Lago and which she still owns according to property records.

The restaurant outing on a Monday came at the end of an extravagant December weekend of celebration that marked growing acceptance into the Trump fold.

On the Friday she enjoyed a magnificent birthday dinner that included a bottle of 2013 vintage Salon champagne, which typically costs an eye-watering $1,300.

Posting a social media image of the super-expensive fizz being poured by a waiter, she wrote: 'S is for Spoiled'.

And in a clear reference to her new beau, she added: 'How sweet it is to be loved by you', accompanied by the James Taylor song. In a further message, she wrote: 'IYKYK', meaning, 'if you know, you know'.

Don Jr sent his new love a card saying 'I think you're perfect'.

But the piece de resistance of the celebration was an astonishing 19-inch, Y-shaped diamond necklace in 18 carat white gold and with more than 100 jewels weighing a total of 28.27 carats. Similar baubles fetch well over $100,000.

On the Saturday, she was whisked off to Mar-a-Lago by Don Jr to enjoy a balloon-themed cake courtesy of his ex-wife Vanessa, who is now dating troubled golf legend Tiger Woods.

Born in Palm Beach with a twin sister Kristina, Anderson's late father was Harry Loy Anderson who became the youngest bank president in the country when he took the helm of Worth Avenue National Bank at the age of 26.

Mother Inger, 75, still lives in an $11.5million home in an exclusive section of the mega-rich enclave.

Statuesque Bettina co-founded The Paradise Fund with her two brothers Kent and Harry Loy III in 2005. The charity supports children worldwide through humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

She attended Palm Beach Day School followed by St Andrew's School in nearby Boca Raton where fees are more $72,000 for the most senior boarders.

Next it was a BA in Art History, Criticism and Conservation from Columbia in New York City, where she lived for a further three years before returning home and starting her ascent to become an essential part of Palm Beach's exclusive social circuit – and part of America's First Family.

The fact that the wedding wasn't the ritzy Florida beach town's hottest ticket for years will have disappointed dozens of socialites in Anderson's golden circle who may have been expecting an invite.

However, they got the chance enjoy the glow at her bridal shower at Mar-a-Lago in April.

Bettina stunned at the Enchanted Garden-themed event at the Trump compound's ballroom wearing a strapless tea-length white dress with delicate silver floral embroidery on the top.

The bride-to-be paired that with $1,500 satin slingback pumps with a crystal toe by designer Manolo Blahnik.

Don Jr's sister Ivanka, 44, led the posse of presidential family women attending, including Lara and Tiffany Trump and Don Jr's golf protege daughter Kai, 18.

Donald Trump's second wife Marla Maples also enjoyed the celebration, but First Lady Melania, 55, was missing.

At one point, the president's son dropped in with a massive red floral bouquet and planted a kiss on his future second wife.

Ivanka was so smitten by the bash she posted photos on social media with the caption: 'Celebrated love, family, and new beginnings at Bettina's bridal shower this weekend. So grateful to share in this joyous moment.'

Anderson left a comment on the posting, saying: 'How blessed am I. So grateful for you girls.'

She also later posted photos revealing a sumptuous three-tier cake and gift bags for guests, estimated to have been less than 100.

Clearly floating with the magic of it all, Anderson wrote: 'Still soaking in how beautiful and special Sunday was. To be surrounded by so many women I love and admire, and feel so grateful to have in my corner, meant more than I can say.

'@donaldtrumpjr I cannot wait to marry you.'