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Prince Philippe of Belgium, left, with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer in Redmond today, during a visit to the company's headquarters. (MIKE KANE/SEATTLE P-I PHOTOS)

Maybe it's time to start a regular feature, something along the lines of "Random Dignitary of the Month," tracking the various national and international figures who visit Microsoft on a regular basis. In the past, we've seen visits by such officials as Chinese President Hu Jintao and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. In November, it was former U.S. President Bill Clinton. In January, it was Finland's prime minister, Matti Vanhanen. This morning, it was Prince Philippe of Belgium.

As home to the European Commission, Belgium has primarily been linked to Microsoft through the various antitrust investigations into the company's business practices. There was no direct mention of those issues in the public remarks by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer after he met with Prince Philippe and Belgian officials. Speaking to a large group of Belgian media, Ballmer said they discussed the tech industry in Belgium and the possibility of "extended collaboration" between Microsoft and Belgian companies, in areas including health-care technology. Ballmer cited the possibility of a follow-up discussion when he visits Brussels in April.

Prince Philippe is also slated to go to Starbucks, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Boeing during his time in the Seattle region.