'This has been an extraordinary year': Prince William thanks frontline workers in Belfast on Emergency Services Day

Prince William has travelled to Northern Ireland for his first in-person royal engagement following his summer break.

The Duke of Cambridge met with police, ambulance, fire and rescue workers as he marked Emergency Services Day in Belfast.

The annual day is to give thanks to two million frontline workers across the UK's NHS and emergency services sector and has even greater meaning this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"This has already been an extraordinary year," Prince William said in a speech at the Police Training College.

RELATED: Prince William's heartfelt message to emergency responders

"The months ahead will no doubt be uncertain and at some points scary. But thanks to the dedication and sacrifice of those of you working across the emergency services and in the NHS, I count myself and others in this country very fortunate."

Prince William also commented on the recent stabbings in Birmingham.

"Each and every day, people from teams across the blue light community are called to the scenes of dreadful incidents," he said.

"Just last week in Birmingham, ambulance and police workers turned up to a horrendous incident and provided critical care and support to the most vulnerable."

The Duke of Cambridge reminded the gathered group: "I know first-hand, that even in routine circumstances, those of you on the frontline can face immense challenges that can naturally have a significant impact on both your physical and mental health."

The royal, who chaired the very first Emergency Responder Senior Leader Board via video conference on Tuesday, vowed to repay the sense of protection.

"As you care for us in our time of need, so too must we ensure that we are there for you when you need it the most. "

The Duke met with police officers and staff taking part in Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Wellbeing Volunteer Training course — a bespoke emergency services peer support programme.

The first-of-its-kind course trains volunteers to support colleagues suffering from mental health issues, using shared experiences and understanding of common difficulties faced by those within the sector.

Prince William also met with the Community Rescue Service (CRS), operated by community volunteers across Northern Ireland.

The Emergency Responder Senior Leader Board is the first of its kind, bringing together leaders from across all of the UK's emergency services on the issue of mental health.

The Board — established by Prince William in response to a recommendation from a mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders in the UK research project commissioned by The Royal Foundation in 2018 — aims to bring about a collaborative approach to mental health support across the nation's emergency services.

The research conducted by King's College London and the Open University, found there is a need for greater sharing of "better practice" across the emergency services sector to best support the mental health of its workforces.