Michael Halbye, a Lego executive and close friend of Denmark’s Queen Mary, died after a skiing accident in Switzerland over the weekend. Halbye was skiing in the Verbier region of Swiss Alps on Saturday when he suffered a serious fall on the piste, according to a statement from  Kirkbi, Lego’s parent company. He was immediately airlifted to a hospital, where he died from internal bleeding shortly after his arrival. He was 64. “I have received with great sadness the news of Michael Halbye’s sudden death,” Queen Mary of Denmark said in a tribute. “Michael Halbye was a man who possessed a rare positive energy, extensive knowledge and a strong commitment to making a difference for those outside the community,” she continued. “He was also my friend, and he will be missed by many. My thoughts go out to his family and close friends.” Halybe had served on The Mary Foundation’s board of directors since its inception nearly 20 years. He played a “central role” in its development and worked closely alongside the foundation’s chairman and secretariat as well as the Queen, according to a statement from the organization. It was founded in 2007 “to combat social isolation in order to contribute to a society where everyone feels they belong,” according to its website. Halybe has also been a member of Kirkbi’s board of directors since 2020, and he was elected to serve as vice chair in 2022. “Our thoughts and care go to Michael’s family and loved ones, who are now faced with having to process the unexpected loss of a man who, in all facets of life, has left a great and positive impression on those around him,” chairman Thomas Kirk Kristiansen said in a statement. “We will miss Michael as Vice Chairman but first and foremost as a person. May his memory be honored,” he added. ...read more read less