NAMES IN THE NEWS : GLIMPSES

Britain’s Princess Anne celebrated her 40th birthday today at her home in Gatcombe Park with her children, Peter, 12, and Zara, 9. An official birthday portrait published in British newspapers showed a smiling princess wearing her hair down--a change from her usual conservative hairdo. The princess, who is separated from her husband, Mark Phillips, is said to be “happier than ever.” . . . All’s well in the wee European principality of Lichtenstein, where Prince Hans Adam II was enthroned today as the new ruler. The prince, 45, said Liechtenstein, which is smaller than Washington, D.C., always will be independent in “the new Europe” and that the people will remain faithful to the ruling family despite the disappearance of many European monarchies. Hans Adam actually began running affairs of state in 1984 when his father, Franz Josef II, became too frail. Franz Josef died last November at the age of 83. . . . Rodney Dangerfield has a September court date for his suit against Caesar’s Palace. He’s suing the Las Vegas hotel-casino on the grounds that his eyes were burned in a steam bath accident at Caesar’s in 1988, forcing him to cancel some shows there . . . Alan Alda will receive a lifetime achievement award from the National Italian-American Foundation at the organization’s Oct. 20 in Washington, D.C. Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and fashion designer Paolo Fendi also will be honored.