Hollywood legend Michael Douglas admitted he made a huge error on one of his trips to Wales with Catherine Zeta-Jones. The 82-year-old and his Swansea-born wife have been married for 26 years, making them one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.
They have since gone on to have two children, Dylan, 26, and Carys, 23. Though they have had their ups and downs, including a temporary separation in 2013, the couple appear stronger than ever.
A Proposal Nearly Derailed
But the Oscar-winning actor made a major blunder before the pair had even walked down the aisle. During the Christmas holidays in 1999, the pair visited Catherine's parents, David and Pat, in Wales.
There were twin purposes for the visit - Michael and Catherine told them she was pregnant, while Michael informed the parents he intended to marry their daughter.
After getting their blessing, the couple flew to Aspen in the US state of Colorado, where he planned to pop the question on New Year's Eve. There was one big problem for Michael though - he couldn't find the engagement ring.
Lost in a Pile of Clothes
Writing in his memoir, One Helluva Ride, the Basic Instinct actor said: "I'd had it with me throughout the trip to Wales, planning to propose on New Year's Eve. I worried that someone had stolen it from my carry-on during the flight home."
"But then Catherine remembered when she had walked into our room in Wales and I had acted like I was hiding something."
Michael went on to explain that she had almost "busted" him holding the engagement ring box. He surmised that he tossed it hurriedly into a pile of clothes and, when packing to leave, forgot to put it in his luggage.
The Honesty of the Welsh
Fortunately, the maid who cleaned their room had turned it into the front desk. Catherine apparently put this down to "the honesty of the Welsh".
Michael said: "I called the hotel in Swansea. 'Hello, this is Mr Douglas. We were just staying with you. By any chance did the maid find a little jewellery box left behind in the room?'"
"She had! Not only had she found a ten-carat Fred Leighton marquis-cut diamond ring, she had turned it into the front desk. Catherine wasn't surprised. 'That's the honesty of the Welsh.'"
Catherine's mother, Pat, ran down to the hotel in her pyjamas to reclaim the ring. She then sent it to them via FedEx. Although the ring didn't arrive in time, he still proposed at the dawn of the millennium.
He concluded: "To this day, Catherine says the honesty of the Welsh bringing the lost ring to her finger was a sign it was meant to be."
Marriage Is a Lot of Work
Meanwhile, Michael conceded that "marriage is a lot of work" as he opened up on their temporary separation. Discussing his reunion with Catherine with The Sunday Times, Michael was questioned about how he won her back.
He responded: "What, I won her back? It was mutual...You know we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know...marriage is a lot of work, you know. And so, you know, we're good. We're in good shape. It's all I can say."
